A greater understanding of cruel, unforgiving dementia
ONE in three people born in the UK in 2017 are expected to die from dementia.
It has been described as a “cruel” and “unfor- giving” illness which robs people of their memory and ability to reason.
And it is now so common that it has overtaken heart disease as the leading cause of death in Wales and England.
But while many of us are aware of the symptoms, most are fortunate enough to have never experienced dementia firsthand.
So to help carers, the emergency services, and members of the public understand the physical and mental challenges new “virtual dementia training” is being rolled out across Britain.
Training 2 Care says its courses are “medically and scientifically proven” to resemble the closest experience of dementia.
“When people first have dementia they move from one reality into a completely different kind of reality,” said Keith Bunting, who visited Morgana Court care home in South Cornelly, near Porthcawl, to carry out the pioneering training.
“We cannot pull them back into our reality so the only way we can provide person-centred care is by embracing the life they now live.
“By understanding dementia from the person’s point-of-view we can change practice, reduce issues, and improve their lives. It is an exhilarating and rewarding experience to go through their journey.”
As part of the training participants are asked to put on different items of clothing and pieces of equipment which help to mimic dementia symptoms.
These include: Spiked insoles gloves
These insoles, which have small plastic spikes sticking out of them, are designed to replicate a condition known as peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy develops when nerves in the body’s extremities – such as the hands, feet and arms – are damaged.
People with the condition often suffer from stabbing or shooting pains, which is what the and spiked shoes are trying to recreate.
Similarly, peripheral neuropathy can affect the sensory nerves and balance. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are handed out to each participant which mimic the effects of macular degeneration.
This debilitating eye condition causes people to lose central vision, usually in both eyes, making reading and writing very difficult. It also makes some colours completely indistinguishable from one another. Headphones
Arguably the most unsettling part of the dementia tour, the headphones are designed to replicate audio mass – a condition where nearby and distant sounds are almost indistinguishable.
The chaotic range of noises – which include talking, background noise and sudden ambulance sirens and banging doors – are designed to make the participant unsettled and reduce their ability to hear themselves think.
Once all the equipment and clothing is put on, participants are ushered into a dark room with a range of fast-paced moving lights and are given a series of tasks to perform.
These include trying to find a matching pair of socks, pouring themselves a glass of water, and putting on a shirt.
While the tasks appear simplistic, the lack of vision, spatial awareness, and ability to think make them nigh-on impossible.
“I bombard people with a series of information just before they enter the room,” added Mr Bunting.
“And I garble them while they are under great distress.
“I aim to evoke what this must be like for a person with dementia and show carers how important it is to communicate clearly and effectively.”
The virtual dementia tour was invented in the United States 20 years ago by PK Beville.
Its practises have now been brought to the UK, with care staff in Wales now benefiting from the experience.
“By walking in the shoes of a person with dementia, we can start to understand the issues that they experience everyday,” a spokesman for Training 2 Care said.
“You will experience being confused, isolated, lost, intimidated, vulnerable and much more and therefore understand what you need to change to improve quality of care.”
Morgana Court care home in South Cornelly, a SilverCrest care home which hosted the training, is set to open a new 18-bedroom lodge for dementia patients in June, complete with some innovative features.
Once completed it will include a room with a mock railway carriage and a huge television screen – acting as a train window – which will screen a journey on a steam locomotive. The lounge area will also be fitted with its own mock pub.