Top chef Ron Blaauw’s mission: hospitality should become dementia-friendly
The popular television programme Restaurant Misverstand centred on a group of people with Alzheimer’s who started working in a restaurant with top chef Ron Blaauw. The aim of the programme: to show what this disease means and what people with dementia can still do. Together with Alzheimer Nederland, Ron Blaauw developed training for hospitality staff: how can they turn their restaurant, café or coffee shop into a dementia-friendly place?
People with dementia are welcome in Ron Blaauw’s restaurants, because his staff have of course already completed the training. ‘I think it’s important that people with dementia feel they can dine out normally,’ he says. ‘That they don’t feel they’re being treated differently, but that at the end of the evening they walk out the door with a smile, having had a wonderful evening.’
Less nervous
During the training, hospitality staff learn how to recognise that someone has dementia. With a few small cues, they can help someone feel at ease, says Blaauw. ‘I notice that staff are less nervous and shy when interacting with people with dementia. They are quicker to recognise the signs and can therefore respond better to a situation and approach the guest more effectively.’
GOED training
Ron Blaauw’s training is free and is available on the Alzheimer Nederland website. It only takes about fifteen minutes, and anyone can take part, whether you work in a fast-food restaurant or an upscale restaurant. The method they learn is called GOED, a mnemonic for Geruststellen, Oogcontact, Even meedenken and Dankjewel: Reassure, Make eye contact, Think along for a moment and Say thank you. This helps them accommodate people with dementia – and it certainly can’t hurt with guests without a disease or disorder either.
