Activity Report on Our Seven Material Issues
2024.6.28
bet365 手数料’s as a Welcoming New Hub Connecting Dementia Patients with the Community
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bet365 手数料 i Food Systems is collaborating with Japanese government agencies to use their casual dining restaurant, Denny’s, as a meeting place for dementia patients. As of the end of May 2024, this initiative has expanded to 19 stores in 13 municipalities, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, contributing to the realization of an inclusive society.
Background
Creating a society where everyone can live comfortably, truly reflecting the needs and feelings of people with dementia, is an urgent task.
Currently, there are over 55 million dementia patients worldwide, with approximately 10 million new cases being added every year. *1 Japan, which has the world’s highest aging population, is also seeing an increasing trend. It is estimated that by 2050, the number of dementia patients aged 65 and over in Japan will reach approximately 5.9 million (about 15% of those aged 65 and over) *2. Therefore, it is necessary to promote efforts to prevent the onset of dementia, eliminate prejudice against dementia, and aim for an inclusive society.
Many Japanese municipalities hold “Dementia Patient Meetings,” where dementia patients and related parties gather to exchange various opinions and information to consider necessary services and community building. However, these meetings are usually held in cafes or meeting rooms operated by the government, which presents a psychological barrier to participation.
bet365 手数料 i Food Systems, which operates 318 Denny’s restaurants in Japan*3, has long valued its connection with the local community through activities such as “Food Education Schools” for local children and “Food Drives” where people donate unused food from their homes. As part of these efforts, they have also focused on training dementia supporters. By July 2019, nearly all Denny’s locations had trained dementia supporters assigned to help those with dementia and their families enjoy their dining experience. Given this background, in July 2020, the Chiyoda Ward in Tokyo approached Denny’s with the idea of holding a “Dementia Patient Meeting” at one of their locations, and this project was launched.
- *1 From a WHO report on dementia
- *2 From a dementia survey report by Kyushu University (Japanese) [PDF:17.4MB]
- *3 As of the end of February 2024
Solution
Promoting accurate knowledge and understanding of dementia while ensuring the psychological safety of meeting participants.
Akiko Iwaki, who is in charge of sustainability promotion at bet365 手数料 i Food Systems and played a central role in this project, recalls: “I believe the administration of Chiyoda Ward reached out to us because they expected that even dementia patients who feel tense in public facilities would naturally engage in conversations at familiar Denny’s. Personally, I wanted Denny’s to be a place where dementia patients could connect with society.”
In preparation for the first “Dementia Patient Meeting” to be held at a Denny’s location, we undertook two major preparations. The first was a meeting combined with a site inspection. Together with representatives from Chiyoda Ward, we reviewed bet365 手数料eating layout, payment methods, and necessary equipment. bet365 手数料econd was conducting a “Dementia Supporter Training Course” for bet365 手数料tore staff scheduled to work during the meeting hours. The goal was not only to impart the understanding that “dementia patients are bet365 手数料ame as any other customers” and to provide them with accurate knowledge but also to include role-playing scenarios to simulate potential challenges during dining or conversations with dementia patients at Denny’s.
Result
What began as a challenge at one location has grown into a significant movement.
The first meeting, attended by a total of 19 people, was a success. All five dementia patients who responded to the post-event survey expressed high satisfaction, saying they would like to participate again. Many municipal representatives also shared their delight, noting, “A dementia patient who had never spoken before smiled and started talking when they saw a delicious-looking dessert!” Ms. Iwaki herself felt a strong sense of accomplishment, saying, “We received many words of gratitude from the participants, which also boosted the motivation of our store staff.” As of May 2024, this initiative has expanded to 19 stores in 13 municipalities, mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area. “We aim to continue our activities to increase the number of places where dementia patients can share their thoughts, worries, and ideas,” Ms. Iwaki enthusiastically states.
Moreover, in April 2024, Denny’s announced its initiative for promoting dementia barrier-free practices, becoming the first restaurant chain to register the “Dementia Barrier-Free Declaration.” We will continue to promote the initiative of holding “Dementia Patient Meetings” at our restaurants, further deepening our connection with the local community, and positively impacting our business.
- *The content of the article is based on interviews conducted at the time.