How a Japan restaurant is leading the way in elderly care

The country is finding heartwarming ways to integrate its large elderly population within wider society.

Japan has one of the oldest populations worldwide. As a result, age related ailments are a growing issue across the country. And diseases like dementia pose a problem for a government increasing efforts to keep the elderly integrated within society.

But despite these hurdles, the rest of us could learn a thing or two from the East Asian island.

Plans to ensure the elderly feel included (and, crucially, useful) are becoming ever more creative. And the most recent strategy by a small Japanese cafe has warmed hearts across the internet.

‘The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders’ in Tokyo hires elderly dementia sufferers as servers, embracing the mishaps that inevitably follow.

The business aims to give those with dementia a safe space to be productive and meet new people, in keeping with national efforts to do the same.