Restaurant Changes Perception Of Aging & By Hiring Only People With Dementia

Aug 29, 2023 by apost team

For many people, having a long life is a gift that keeps on giving. Like all phases in life, several positives come with aging, including a happier outlook on life, ample time to spend with loved ones, the opportunity to learn new things without work getting in the way, a sense of accomplishment, and better social skills, among others. 

Of the many benefits of aging, having a happier outlook on life is one of the most common among seniors worldwide. According to a 2016 Office of National Statistics study, seniors between the ages of 65 and 79 reported higher life satisfaction and happiness compared with people in their middle years. Also, seniors within that age bracket were reported to experience less anxiety than any other age group.

However, like everything with a positive side, aging has its negatives. The number one con of aging is the decline in seniors' health. A 2022 study by the National Council on Aging revealed that about 80% of adults 65 and older have at least one chronic condition, while about 68% have two or more. According to NCOA, some of seniors' most common chronic diseases include dementia, diabetes, arthritis and hypertension. 

As a result of this impediment to their health, seniors are usually excluded from several activities. But to change the narrative about aging and spread awareness about dementia, a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, called The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders, hires only servers living with dementia. The restaurant had its first pop-up event supporting the cause in 2017 and has since continued to organize these events.

According to 2023 statistics from the World Health Organization, more than 55 million people worldwide are currently living with dementia. People with Dementia are usually isolated because of their condition, but The Restaurant of Mistaken Orders found a way to include them in something productive while spreading awareness about their disease. The motivation for the project started after the creator, Shiro Oguni, had an encounter that changed his perspective on people living with Dementia in a group home. 

"Like everybody else, my awareness of dementia at first tended towards negative images of people who were 'radically forgetful' and 'aimlessly wandering about.' But actually, they can cook, clean, do laundry, go shopping and do other 'normal' things for themselves. Close-up, they might go a little off course now and then, but…" said Oguni in a 2019 publication by JapanGov.

The restaurant operates by employing servers living with dementia. Although guests are made to write down their orders, the servers still make some mistakes, but this is to be expected, as relayed by the restaurant's website. 

"All of our servers are people living with dementia. They may, or may not, get your order right. However, rest assured that even if your order is mistaken, everything on our menu is delicious and one of a kind. This, we guarantee," the restaurant's website noted, as per Kottke.

Besides spreading awareness about their condition, the project has improved the overall mood of the participants. A participant, Tamizo Oka, a server at the restaurant, talked about how delighted he was to be a part of the project.

"I thought it was a dream. Living in nursing homes, exciting things rarely happen, so I was very happy to be a part of it. It was so much fun," he said.

apost.com

What do you think of the Restaurant of Mistaken Orders? Do you think it is a great initiative to spread awareness about dementia? Do you think a similar initiative should be done in other countries? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends and family members.