I’ve been working in elderly welfare, particularly in the nursing care field, for almost 30 years now. I currently run a social worker office in Osaka City. One of my main duties is to provide consultations to so-called “business carers” who care for their relatives while working, and to support them in balancing work and nursing.
People who come to consult with me wish for the happiness of their elderly relatives, and are trying to fulfill their role as children.
During consultations, I sometimes ask, “How would you like your parents to live?” Although each person expresses this differently, most people answer, “I want them to smile.”
“I want my parents to smile.” It’s simple, but this is probably a universal wish of children.
However, as we get older, we laugh less due to decreased social interaction and decreased brain function caused by aging. According to one survey, people in their 70s only laugh an average of two times a day.
There is a place where seniors who no longer laugh can smile with a smile.
It is a disco event called “Senior Disco” that welcomes people over 65 years old. It is held by our office and two other companies as “Senior Disco Promotion Association”.
Events where seniors and young generations dance together to nostalgic songs are rare nationwide, and even though there is no special advertising, it has become more popular with each passing event, and now tickets are sold out in the blink of an eye.
One of the characteristics of senior discos is that many parents and children participate. It is not uncommon to see parents and children in their 80s and 50s dancing hand in hand. An 80-year-old father laughs shyly next to his daughter in her 50s who says happily, “I didn’t know my father could dance so well.”
If you want to see parents’ smiles, come to Senior Disco. You’re sure to have a smile on your face with your child.

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI