Japan is facing a dementia crisis. Last year, over 18,000 elderly with dementia wandered off from home. Nearly 500 were found dead. Police say such incidents have doubled since 2012. The country's ageing population strains care systems. Workforce shortages and strict rules on foreign caregivers worsen the problem. The government sees dementia as a pressing issue. Health Ministry expects dementia care costs to hit 14 trillion yen ($90bn) by 2030, up from nine trillion yen in 2025. New strategies rely more on technology. GPS tracking systems are widely used. Wearable GPS tags alert authorities if a person leaves a safe zone. In some areas, convenience stores get instant alerts to help find missing persons quickly. AI tools like Fujitsu's aiGait monitor walking patterns. This helps spot dementia early by detecting signs like slow turns or shuffling. Hidenori Fujiwara of Fujitsu says, "Early detection of age-related diseases is key. If doctors can use motion-capture data, they can intervene earlier and help people remain active for longer." Waseda University scientists are building AIREC, a 150kg humanoid robot caregiver. It helps with tasks like putting on socks and folding laundry. They hope it will soon assist with diaper changing and prevent bedsores. Robots also entertain patients and monitor sleep to reduce human workload. Assistant Professor Tamon Miyake warns it will take five years to build robots smart and safe enough for full care. "Robots should supplement, not substitute, human caregivers," he says. Small robots like Poketomo ease loneliness by reminding users to take meds and chatting with them. Sharp's Miho Kagei says, "We're focusing on social issues... and to use new technology to help solve those problems." Yet human connection remains crucial. In Tokyo, the Restaurant of Mistaken Orders lets dementia patients serve customers, keeping them active. Founder Akiko Kanna says it helps patients feel useful. One server, Toshio Morita, says, "Honestly? I wanted a little pocket money. I like meeting all sorts of people. Everyone's different - that's what makes it fun." Technology aids care but real support comes from community and human touch.