Tuesday, January 24, 2023
The 2023 Extraordinary General Meeting of the Young-Onset Dementia Family Association "Sorachi Himawari" (Representative: Isao Hoshiba) was held at the Hokuryu Town Senior Welfare Center from 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 21st.
- 1 The Sorachi Himawari group, a family association for people with early-onset dementia, disbanded (January 21st)
- 2 15-year history of the Sorachi Himawari Association for Families of People with Early-Onset Dementia
- 3 Representative Isao Hoshiba receives the plaque for the 37th Doushin Volunteer Encouragement Award
- 4 Souvenirs: Lunch boxes, drinks, freezer bags
- 5 Our gratitude as a couple
- 6 Other photos
- 7 Related articles
The Sorachi Himawari group, a family association for people with early-onset dementia, disbanded (January 21st)
The agenda included a discussion about the future of "Sorachi Himawari." Participants exchanged opinions, and it was unanimously resolved that the "Sorachi Himawari Young-Onset Dementia Family Association" would be dissolved as of today.
In addition, the activity report, financial report, and audit report for fiscal year 2022 were approved, and it was also resolved that the remaining carryover funds for next fiscal year will be donated to the Hokuryu Town Social Welfare Council.
The Sorachi Himawari Association for Families of People with Early-Onset Dementia was established in Hokuryu Town on November 11, 2007. We welcomed Mr. Shinji Nakamura and his family from Tokyo and initially began our activities with the support of 23 supporters.
For nine years, our members supported and watched over Shinji Nakamura in Hokuryu Town, providing him with various activities to support his daily life, such as walking, table tennis, drumming, and pottery. In 2016, Shinji passed away due to aspiration pneumonia and other causes.
Since then, we have continued our activities by accepting several people with early-onset dementia, but they have all been admitted to facilities or hospitals. Also, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020, the activities of "Sorachi Himawari" have continued to decrease in recent years.
As our members are getting older, most of them said things like, "From now on, I'm in a state where I need to be taken care of myself," and "If there's anything I can do to help in the future, I'll do my best to help according to my physical condition."
In light of the changing times and the global situation, we have decided to follow the natural flow of the times and, with great regret, disband the Sorachi Himawari Association for Families of People with Early-Onset Dementia.
15-year history of the Sorachi Himawari Association for Families of People with Early-Onset Dementia
After the exchange of opinions, everyone viewed a photo exhibition looking back on these precious 15 years. This exhibition was put together by the secretariat, led by Secretary General Michihito Nakamura, over a period of about one month.
Thirty-five photos were selected from over 10,000 photographs taken over 15 years and printed for exhibition. In addition, a video of 65 photographs that was shown in PowerPoint at the 10th anniversary lecture was also exhibited.
Everyone stopped in front of the photos and reminisced about their activities at the time. The past 15 years came back to them like a slideshow, and their hearts were filled with fond memories.
At the 10th anniversary lecture, a video of 65 photographs presented in PowerPoint was also on display.
Representative Isao Hoshiba receives the plaque for the 37th Doushin Volunteer Encouragement Award
Finally, the ceremony concluded with Vice President Tanaka Moriaki handing over the certificate and plaque for the 37th Doushin Volunteer Encouragement Award (received in 2013), as well as the exhibited photographs, to President Hoshiba Isao.
Souvenirs: Lunch boxes, drinks, freezer bags
We received lunch boxes, drinks, and freezer bags as souvenirs, and then everyone headed home in groups of three or four.
Our gratitude as a couple
For my wife and I, the Sorachi Himawari Association for Families of People with Early-Onset Dementia has been a special and precious presence. It is truly thanks to everyone at Sorachi Himawari that we are able to exist in this wonderful town of Hokuryu today.
In 2009, we had the fortunate opportunity to meet with Representative Isao Hoshiba, and what prompted us to decide to move to Hokuryu Town was the warmth, sincerity, and thoughtfulness of everyone who kindly welcomed us at a hot pot party at the time.
Our hearts are filled with gratitude that cannot be expressed in words, and we are so grateful and moved by how much we have been saved.
We will continue to cherish our gratitude to all of you and walk through life slowly, carefully taking one step at a time, while giving back to the many people of Hokuryu Town who continue to support us so warmly.
Thank you so much!
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers to the people of Hokuryu who watch over and support us...
Other photos
Related articles
◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi
