Do You Want To Read Something Wonderful?

I heard about and then read about a heart-warming story that takes place often in Tokyo—yes, Tokyo!

As I have aged, I have become more and more aware of the problems of older people as they “age mentally” and some begin to suffer from the “D” word— dementia! It progresses slowly for some and faster for others and has different levels of diminished cognitive/ memory losses. But no matter the levels, it so often leads to folks no longer being able to identify as part of society or needed parts of the “work-a-day” world.

And as I was perusing news and internet articles recently, I found the words—“CAFÉ OF MISTAKEN ORDERS.” At first I thought it might be a complaint about poor service. Boy, was I wrong!

This place is a 12-seats restaurant in Sengawa, western Tokyo, and to my surprise, it employs folks mostly in their 60s through 80s who suffer various levels of the “Big D.”

And the idea began as “pop-up” events but is now spreading to permanent locations. Basically, these restaurants open limited hours and days per month and make it possible for dementia patients to have JOBS involving SERVING patrons who dine there or order take-out.

Some of the workers forget orders from kitchen to tables; some can’t get the orders to tables without help from staff and patrons; some ask every few minutes when it will be time to start or stop; some have special chairs to help them remember where to begin; some react strangely to noise; some make eye contact rarely; some say “thankyou” and readily smile, and some are silent or too loud; some know they are “troubled,” and some do not!

However, all the “dementia workers” are helped when necessary, feel needed, enjoy being allowed to work and have contact with folks besides family, serve folks who understand the nature of the restaurant, and most usually slow the progression of their dementia or at least make the most of the opportunity to do something “fun” and/or “meaningful” to them.

Sometimes special tables make it possible for the workers to remember who or what they are serving, and some really respond to special clothing they get to wear.

Old folks and young folks VOLUNTEER to work at these establishments, and some use the experience for “study projects,” while others volunteer in memory/ honor of a relative or friend. The owner of one restaurant has a parent with dementia, and one worker who does not have severe symptoms yet commented that she “feels as if she is getting younger when she works!” All who eat or order at these establishments understand “how it all works” and are glad to help! And when they order one food and are served another, they are “good sports” and laugh and have good times.

I learned that Shiro Oguni, a Japanese television director, came up with the idea for “The Restaurant of Order Mistakes.” The idea of these places is to let others know that dementia patients should not be “scary” or “problem people.”

I learned that at one of these restaurants, 37% of the orders are “done” incorrectly but that 99% of the customers leave “happy.”

I learned that at some one-day events at these restaurant venues, so many people want to help, volunteer, and patronize that they are wonderful fund-raisers to help folks with dementia and related problems.

I learned that quite a few patrons are even disappointed when their orders are brought perfectly— they want to be surprised and try something new with a laugh!

And I learned that “bright orange” is the color supposedly associated with dementia care! (Yes, Mrs. Linelle Warren, “I did not just hang around today; I learned something,” as you quite often prodded us to do in your English classes a few years ago!)