A Dementia Café as a Bridgehead for Community-Inclusive Care: Qualitative Analysis of Observations by On-the-Job Training Participants in a Dementia Café

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2018;46(3-4):128-139. doi: 10.1159/000492174. Epub 2018 Sep 4.

Abstract

Background/aims: Dementia cafés are becoming widespread as a new approach to dementia care, but their operational procedures and significance have not been adequately studied.

Methods: On-the-job training (OJT) for professionals planning to operate a dementia café in the future was conducted in a pioneering dementia café in Japan. The reports of OJT trainees' observations and learning were analyzed qualitatively.

Results: Reports could be summarized in up to 9 themes: 2 related to the atmosphere and significance of the café, 3 related to the guests, such as people with dementia and their families, and 4 related to the café staff.

Discussion: The results of the present study identified the elements that make up dementia cafés and their significance and suggest that dementia cafés could be a new type of community resource for dementia care in the future.

Keywords: Alzheimer café; Alzheimer café staff; Caregiver; Community care; Memory café.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Behavior Observation Techniques / methods
  • Community Networks / organization & administration*
  • Community Participation* / methods
  • Community Participation* / psychology
  • Dementia* / diagnosis
  • Dementia* / psychology
  • Evaluation Studies as Topic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inservice Training / methods*
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Japan
  • Male