The team at Bluebird Care Central Bedfordshire recently took part in the Virtual Dementia Tour, an immersive training experience designed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of what it can feel like to live with dementia.
The experience uses sensory changes, altered environments and a series of everyday tasks to give participants an insight into some of the challenges a person living with dementia may face. It can be a powerful and thought-provoking experience, helping care professionals develop greater empathy and understanding.
For our team, the tour provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on the experiences of our customers and how we can continue to adapt our approach to provide compassionate, person-centred care.
Raj said the experience was “a real eye opener”, adding: “It has made me more aware of how someone with dementia actually feels. I never really knew how in-depth it was.”
Debbie M said: “To realise this is what some of our customers go through daily is unbelievable. It also made me understand exactly what my Nan went through 10 years ago when she passed away.”
Helen described the experience as showing how “the simplest task can be like climbing a mountain” and how it can make “your world incredibly and horribly small”.
Other members of the team shared similar reflections. Shanice found it “really good and thought provoking”, while Lisa said it gave her a “greater understanding of the physical changes someone goes through”.
For one team member, the experience was particularly emotional: “It has given me a better understanding of how someone with dementia sees their world. Heartbreaking how their world becomes smaller and smaller as the disease progresses.”
Director Tammie Cooper said: “The Virtual Dementia Tour is an incredibly valuable experience for our team. Understanding what our customers may be experiencing helps us look beyond the symptoms of dementia and consider the person behind the condition. We want our Care Experts to approach every customer with patience, empathy and compassion, and training like this helps us continually improve the care and support we provide.”
The experience reinforces an important part of our approach at Bluebird Care Central Bedfordshire: understanding leads to better care. By putting ourselves, even briefly, in the shoes of someone living with dementia, we can develop greater awareness of their needs and find better ways to support both customers and their families.