A tour bus where participants were able to use specialised equipment to simulate memory loss and dementia visited a care home in Calne last month.
Kingston House, Calne’s premier not-for-profit care home, partnered with Training 2 Care to bring its Virtual Dementia Tour Bus to town on 25th October.
The tour bus aims to show more people what it is like living with memory-loss and is recognised as the world's only medically and scientifically validated method to immerse patients with healthy brains into the realities of dementia.
The exercise took around three hours and was delivered on the state-of-the-art mobile unit, more commonly referred to as the 'Dementia Bus'. Participants wore googles, headphones and spiky insoles and were then asked to perform everyday tasks but with distorted vision, loud noises and sensory overload which recreates what it is like to have dementia.
Participants from various local organisations, including the Town Council, Mens Shed, and several volunteer groups, enthusiastically engaged in this transformative experience. Many participants emerged with a renewed perspective, sharing that the immersive challenge left a lasting impression, prompting them to consider how they might adapt their interactions with those affected by dementia.
Catherine Beswick, home manager at Kingston House, expressed her pride in bringing this training to Calne, stating, “There is nothing like getting the first-hand experience of how our residents might be feeling or what they may be experiencing as part of their journey in order to adapt and provide the best person-centred care that we can. Being able to open up this training to people in Calne is a real privilege. I have been part of the town’s group to achieve dementia friendly status in Calne for a number of years, and this is so important to support people in our community the best that we can. If we can work with local groups to support and make small changes then that can only be a good thing.”
Head of Business at Calne Town Council, Mark Edwards echoed this sentiment, recounting his experience with the simulation: “My experience of dementia has thus far been limited to those with early stages or in a care home setting. The experience of mid stage – audio mass , lack of dexterity and impaired vision making even the simplest of tasks impossible.
"The sense of disorientation was huge - and being able to try and function as I would have done so frustrating. I have seen those with dementia struggle and those who provide care and keep them safe exhausted. As the trainer explained patience and kindness makes such a different."
A relative of a local resident with dementia shared, “Having read so much to learn about my mother’s dementia, it was the virtual training experience that enabled me to really understand and appreciate what it could be like for her, especially regarding hearing and eating.”
Volunteers from the Forget Me Not group also found the experience enlightening. One volunteer remarked, “When I was asked to put the shirt on and do up the buttons, I got a much better understanding of the frustration of having difficulty doing something I had had no problem with before. Thinking about it afterwards made me realise how I would have felt if I'd needed someone to help me"
The Virtual Dementia Tour not only aims to educate but also aspires to make Calne a more dementia-friendly community, demonstrating that small changes in behavior and attitude can significantly impact the lives of those living with the condition. Calne Town Council contributed towards the cost of bringing in the Dementia Experience as part of its ongoing commitment to being a Dementia Friendly Town. With the success of this initiative, Kingston House is committed to continuing its efforts in raising awareness and fostering compassion towards individuals living with dementia.
Calne was one of the first towns in Wiltshire to sign up for Dementia Friendly status and as such, Calne Town Council contributed towards the cost of bringing in the Dementia Experience as part of its ongoing commitment to being a Dementia Friendly Town.
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