Japan sets up cafeterias for seniors

Due to demographic collapse, there is no longer enough workforce to care for the elderly. The Japanese authorities therefore try to keep them at home as much as possible by subsidizing cafeterias which allow them, in particular, to recreate connections.

These cafeterias for the elderly are appearing in more and more Japanese cities. And local authorities now have dedicated budgets to help finance these rather special canteens. The city of Tokyo, which brings together several large districts, offers, for example, aid equivalent to 3,500 euros per cafeteria. The idea is to encourage the districts or associations to organize as many cafeterias as possible for the neighborhood’s veterans.

Often these cafeterias do not operate seven days a week, but rather a few days a week. But these are very important moments for these people who often live alone. In Japan, the government estimates that there are now more than seven million people over the age of 65 living alone. And according to statistics from the National Population Institute, only half of these elderly people have, at least, one conversation every day with another human. These cafeterias for seniors must help these people to recreate links, to remain integrated into society.

The operation of these cafeterias is very simple. They are like canteen rooms where people meet for lunch or dinner. The money donated by the communities makes it possible to subsidize the price of meals a little. These are often simple dishes for 400 or 500 yen, that is to say around three or four euros. If it’s too expensive, it discourages veterans who often have very small pensions. So, either the meals are prepared outside by specialized companies, or they are made directly by the organizers with the help of elderly volunteers.

Some 20 million Japanese over the age of 75

These meals are also an opportunity to convey public health messages. After the meal, specialists come to talk about nutrition issues or dementia problems. Japanese authorities are increasingly subsidizing these cafeterias for the elderly. The idea is really to delay the care of very elderly people by institutions as much as possible. The authorities want to keep them at home as long as possible because the country does not really have the means to take care of them.

This is not a financial problem but a labor problem. There are now more than 20 million Japanese over the age of 75 and due to demographic collapse, there is no longer enough workforce to care for them. Some 70% of the country’s retirement homes say they no longer have enough workers to operate properly.