Heartwarming coffee for seniors with dementia: Seven "What Time Is It Café" locations across Taiwan

Text by / MOOK Scenic Spots Family compiled report
 
The "What Time Is It Café," a collaboration between the Catholic Chinese Holy Mother Foundation and 7-ELEVEN, has joyfully opened in Chiayi County.

The "What Time Is It Café" is led by elderly individuals with dementia, averaging 86 years old. Among them, Granny Meizhu is an impressive 101 years young. Though their years may be many, their spirits are young—they embrace today’s trendy retro fashion, donning scarves, warmly greeting guests, brewing coffee, and even guiding Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang in restocking shelves, showcasing youthful vitality that rivals people decades younger.

Granny Meizhu, at the ripe age of 101, once ran a small shop in her youth, selling rice, agricultural fertilizers, and daily necessities. As she aged, her stamina declined significantly. When she first arrived at the Shuishang Day Care Center, she even needed a wheelchair. However, thanks to the care provided by social workers and caregivers, her physical strength and spirit gradually improved. Now, she has become the oldest intern at the "What Time Is It Café" across Taiwan. She can smoothly handle customer checkouts, reminiscent of her days as a shopkeeper, warmly greeting customers with a cheerful “Come on in, have a good day!” Her family noticed that after starting her internship, Granny Meizhu became more lively and talkative, eagerly looking forward to her next shift. They expressed deep gratitude for this opportunity that allows her to showcase her talents once again, bringing her greater happiness.

Since June 2017, the Catholic Chinese Holy Mother Foundation and 7-ELEVEN have partnered on the "What Time Is It Café." On a regular weekly schedule, seniors with dementia visit the stores to intern—learning how to brew coffee and tea eggs, handle checkout, greet customers, and more. Over the two years since its inception, many seniors have shown increased smiles and confidence on their faces, with their families strongly supporting their continued participation. The hope is that through guidance and companionship, these elderly individuals with dementia will have more opportunities to interact with the public, enhance their interpersonal skills, and through weekly internships, help them rediscover past abilities and provide a stage for self-expression.

Since the program’s launch in 2017 as the first-ever convenience store-based “What Time Is It Café,” it has been expanded to regions including Chiayi City, Hsinchu City, Taichung City, Kaohsiung City, and Pingtung City, creating dementia-friendly environments. Post-service observations show that 90% of participating seniors exhibit more stable emotions and increased liveliness, along with a greater willingness to try new things, while 60% show no significant signs of cognitive decline.

The first "What Time Is It Café" in Chiayi County—and the seventh across Taiwan—has officially opened. Under the leadership of the store manager, staff, and volunteers, in addition to providing coffee internship opportunities for the elderly, it also offers a variety of service experiences such as counter checkout and tea egg preparation, allowing seniors more chances to learn, train, interact with customers, and engage with the community, all of which helps slow the progression of their condition. At the same time, the café aims to better support local seniors with dementia and assist more families caring for loved ones with the condition, helping to alleviate caregiving burdens.

 【INFO】
What Time Is It Café branch information
7-ELEVEN Jingjia Branch
Address: 1F, No. 229-231, Section 5, Nanjing East Road, Songshan District, Taipei City
Business hours: Every Friday, 10:30–11:30

7-ELEVEN Science Branch
Address: No. 527-1, Section 1, Guangfu Road, East District, Hsinchu City
Business hours: Every Friday, 10:00–11:00

7-ELEVEN Qinghe Branch
Address: No. 155, Section 3, Qingdao Road, Beitun District, Taichung City
Business hours: Every Thursday, 10:00–11:00

7-ELEVEN Xindaye Branch
Address: No. 194, Wufeng South Road, Chiayi City
Business hours: Every Thursday, 10:00–11:00

7-ELEVEN Jiabei Branch
Address: No. 331, Xingda Road, Chiayi City
Business hours: Every Wednesday, 14:30–15:30

7-ELEVEN Beixiong Branch
Address: No. 381, Section 2, Zhongshan Road, Cuxi Village, Shuishang Township, Chiayi County
Business hours: Every Thursday, 14:00–15:00

7-ELEVEN Weixiong Branch
Address: No. 100, Heping 1st Rd., Lingya District, Kaohsiung City
Service Hours: Every Thursday, 10:00–11:00

7-ELEVEN Yongda Branch
Address: Nos. 122 & 124, Dawu Rd., Pingtung City, Pingtung County
Service Hours: Every Thursday, 10:00–11:00

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》https://www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=21705