A Walk Through Dementia from Alzheimer’s Research is a Virtual Reality Dementia Experience using an App on your smart phone to put you in the shoes of someone living with dementia. It demonstrates some of the symptoms that pose challenges to many people living with dementia using everyday situations:
- A trip to the supermarket
- Being on the road
- Life at home
Whilst you may be familiar with some of the symptoms of dementia, many of us tend to not think beyond the obvious memory loss. You may find that some of the symptoms in the Virtual Reality Dementia Experience will surprise you and may help you think a little differently about dementia.
Popping to the shops – did you pick up on these sypmtoms?
- Struggling to read your shopping list
- Short term memory loss
- Changes in food preferences and eating habits
- Frustration
- Navigation problems
- Anxiety
- Getting lost
- Failing to recognise people you know
- Puddle or a hole?
- Problems judging speeds and distances
At home – did you pick up on these sypmtoms?
- Struggling to remember instructions
- Struggling to see things that are directly in front
- Problems with hand-eye coordination
Click here to learn more – https://www.awalkthroughdementia.org/
A Walk Through Dementia was developed by Alzheimer’s Research UKm the technology experts at Visyon. Alzheimer’s Research has also created The Lived Experience of Dementia. Created by Alzheimer’s Research UK and Bournemouth University, in partnership with people with dementia and their carers, it uses virtual reality to put healthcare professionals in the shoes of the people they care for. The Lived Experience of Dementia is a training resource for Care Workers to put them in the shoes of the people they care for, increasing their lived experience of the condition and building awareness of the lesser-known symptoms.
Gardiner’s has purchased a training pack containing and VR headset. Wy not come and give it a try?
Virtual Dementia Experience
Gardiner’s has on several occasions run Virtual Dementia Tours for our staff. The Virtual Dementia Tour is an opportunity to focus on what dementia is like for the person rather than the care giver. It is the closest experience that can be given to a person with a healthy brain of what dementia might be like – scary, intimidating, confusing and also a feeling of vulnerability. As you will read from the feedback below, the Virtual Dementia Tour had a real impact on our team.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society there are around 850,000 people in the UK with dementia. One in 14 people over 65 will develop dementia, and the condition affects 1 in 6 people over 80. The number of people with dementia is increasing because people are living longer. By understanding dementia from the person’s point of view we can change practice, reduce issues and improve lives.
Feedback from our team about the Virtual Dementia Experience:
- Marissa – “Fantastic session. I really enjoyed it.”
- Suki – “A wonderful insight in to Dementia. Excellent training.”
- Carla – “I found the experience very interesting. Being able to see through the eyes of a person with dementia gives a better understanding and empathy. It can be intense and emotional.”
- Rafia – “Very enlightening, extremely useful and excellent delivery. Thoroughly enjoyed it.”
- Clara – “Very good. It was interesting and a great insight into how people with dementia are living with this illness.”
- Marian – “Fantastic course – has given me a real insight in to dementia.”
- Karen – “The experience was just amazing, giving you a real insight into the life of someone with dementia.”
- Paula – “I really enjoyed the experience, a real eye opener.”
- Colleen – “Fantastic virtual dementia training.”
- Julie – “Brilliant session – really informative and extremely useful.”
- Sarah – “Excellent…. Should be compulsory in caring for dementia.”
- Kelly – “Excellent insight to the difficulties of someone living with dementia experience with daily living. Very good training session.”
Click here to learn more about how Gardiner’s can help you to care for a loved one suffering from Dementia.
