Spreading the Term 'Double Care' Based on 15 Years of Experience
narumi nojima
Double Care Specialist
Head of Ka.ELLE
In January 2000, Narumi’s father became bedridden after a cervical spine injury. While caring for her young children, she began her journey in double care. After 15 years, she concluded this chapter in 2015, the same year she learned the term “double care” and started her advocacy work. In 2017, Narumi founded Ka.ELLE and intensified her activities. Since 2022, she has organized “Double Care Month” every February, serving as the chairperson. In 2023, she co-authored and published “Double Care: Raising Children and Caring for Parents” with Chuohoki Publishing.
～ What is double care? ～
Double care is a perspective that focuses on the burdens, needs, and responsibilities that arise when multiple caregiving duties overlap.
It refers to situations where the care for a close relative, such as caregiving and childcare, occurs simultaneously.
- The scope of caregiving : includes not only physical care but also "caring" in a broader sense.
- Physical care : Assistance with meals, toileting, bathing, dressing, etc.
- Caring : Accompaniment to the hospital, shopping, providing financial assistance, calling to check in, etc.
- The scope of childcaring : If care is necessary even in adulthood, it is still considered as childcare. Reason : Even as an adult, there are times when physical, mental, and financial care are needed. For example : Childbirth, illness, disability, unable to be financially independent, etc.
Double care in the broader sense refers to the overlap of multiple caregiving for close people (including oneself).
- Caregiving or childcaring while being unwell yourself
- Caring for a spouse and grandchildren
- Caring for a parent and a disabled sibling
- Caring for a daughter and her newborn child
- Caring for a pet while caregiving or childcaring Caring for both a parent and a parent-in-law
...and so on.
