Bus Stop Where No Buses Arrive Supports People with Dementia
Toyohashi, Aichi Pref., Oct. 15 (Jiji Press)--A cafe in central Japan set up an old bus stop with a fake timetable installed but no buses arriving, serving as an early example of an initiative known as a "benevolent lie" for individuals with dementia that is now spreading nationwide. The Anki cafe in Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, is designed to be an interaction space for people with dementi...
Toyohashi, a city in central Japan, witnessed the birth of a unique initiative aimed at assisting individuals with dementia in 2021. The Anki cafe, run by a nonprofit organization, introduced a bus stop adorned with a fake timetable, but with no actual buses stopping. This "benevolent lie" was designed to prevent people with dementia from wandering away from care facilities in search of home.
The concept originated from Germany, where similar installations had proven beneficial for residents in dementia care facilities. Tomoka Sugino, the head of Pokapoka no Mori, the organization that manages the cafe, learned about the positive impact these bus stops had on residents. She found the idea of providing a gentle lie to support waiting individuals so endearing that she decided to bring it to Toyohashi.
While the cafe itself does not house dementia patients, it serves as a symbol for the broader initiative. The idea gained traction nationwide, with similar setups appearing in various locations. The cafe's bus stop, once slated for disposal by the Toyohashi Railway Co., became a testament to the power of innovative thinking in addressing the challenges faced by those with dementia.
Written by urgent.news from Nippon.com News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
