- In suburban Tokyo, the Cafe of Mistaken Orders hires dementia patients once a month to serve customers.
- The 12-seat cafe started the initiative to give patients a space where they feel valued and active while interacting with others, slowing the disease’s progression.
- Over 6 million Japanese have dementia, and the number is expected to grow as high as 7.3 million, or 20% of citizens over 65, by 2025.
- Despite occasional errors, customers appreciate the service and have gained more empathy for dementia patients.
