Leading In Dementia Training
Published: 20/11/2018
Training Manager Nicola has arranged for us to use a virtual reality headset that links to a smartphone and gives a powerful recreation of what it is like for someone living with dementia.
We uphold a very high standard of training here at Bluebird Care Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells and have recently been trialling the use of virtual reality to compliment our classroom learning on dementia.
Training Manager Nicola has arranged for us to use a virtual reality headset that links to a smartphone and gives a powerful recreation of what it is like for someone living with dementia.
Using 'A Walk Through Dementia', which is a groundbreaking app from Alzheimer's Research UK, the aim is to help our staff understand a little more about some of the challenges that dementia can bring and through that understanding, further improve the care our customers receive.
The app uses a combination of computer generated environments and 360 degree video sequences to illustrate in powerful detail how even the most everyday task of making a cup of tea can become a challenge for someone with dementia.
The app includes three scenarios that cover purchasing items from a supermarket for a cup of tea, challenges encountered when navigating a street and making a cup of tea for visiting family members.
This new headset was trialled with our office team, who commented on how helpful it was. The headset immerses the wearer into a world that is really quite different to our own.
Here is an example of one of the scenarios:
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, said:
The app also gives a poignant insight into the emotional impact of symptoms, an element that people with dementia told us was important to achieve.
Care Manager Zoe explained:
I was taken into a reality where I had to go shopping and simple everyday things like the shelves, finding the right change and even reading the shopping list presented quite a challenge.
This app is an excellent tool and will help make a big difference to our customers living with dementia simply through understanding more about the condition.
We provide homecare to many people living with dementia in Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells and expect that to only increase, so this is an excellent and helpful innovation!
