Reflections of Buddhist priests who started a dementia carers’ café in Japan

Abstract

Aim Faith-based organizations are a potential global resource; however, details of their activities have not been fully explored in the academic literature. In Japan, little is known about delivering support for dementia caregivers in a faith-based setting. In this study, we spoke with priests who started carers’ cafés to support people who have dementia and people who care for them. These “carers’ cafés” are set up in temples and this movement is slowly expanding. The aim of this study was to (1) provide a detailed description of a carers’ café and (2) report the reflections of the Buddhist priests who have been involved in the project from the beginning. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with five Buddhist priests who pioneered the carers’ café movement, and conducted a thematic analysis of the transcripts using a qualitative descriptive approach. Results Six prominent themes were identified: “A carers’ café aligns with Buddhist doctrine,” “...reveals the strengths of Buddhism and its temples,” “...facilitates priests’ personal growth,” and “...introduces viewpoints from outside of Buddhism.” Conclusions Carers’ cafés set up in temples have a positive impact on the Buddhist priests who are involved and on the visitors. One possible reason for this is that the relationship between the temple and the local residents has a long history and thus provides a sense of security for those who are suffering from the realities related to dementia. To create a more inclusive society, it is necessary for secular entities to support this new movement.