While it is unlikely that you spend your free time daydreaming about what it would be like to live with dementia, dedicating a few moments of thought to the topic could have the potential to dramatically improve someone’s quality of life. While we continue to live in a world without a cure to Alzheimer’s Disease, the 6th leading cause of death in the United States, we need to find a way to make life with the disease more livable. As the nation ages, the number of those living with dementia increases. In 2019, there were an estimated 5.8 million people living with some form of dementia. The Center has taken steps to join the efforts in addressing this healthcare crisis. As part of the GWEP grant, several Center staff members have been trained to deliver the Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT), an evidence-based product of Second Wind Dreams, free of cost to agencies across Colorado. “The Virtual Dementia Tour is a scientifically proven method that builds sensitivity and awareness in individuals caring for those with dementia by temporarily altering participants’ physical and sensory abilities.” ¹
After going through a simulation of what it may feel like to have dementia, participants have the opportunity to debrief the experience with trained professionals and work together to brainstorm ways in which we can change our own behaviors, as well as our environments, to accommodate the needs of someone with dementia. To learn more about the Virtual Dementia Tour, visit Second Wind Dreams’ website here: https://www.secondwind.org/virtual-dementia-tourreg.html
The Center can bring this training to you and your community, whether you are a long-term care facility, a private business, or a public entity interested in increasing awareness around dementia. If you are a personal caregiver, a family member of someone living with dementia, or a community member interested in learning more, this training is also for you! Reach out to us to find out when and where there is a community training that you could attend or to schedule one for your organization. You can do so by reaching out to the Dementia Education Coordinator, Elizabeth Collins, at Elizabeth@coloradonursingcenter.org
¹ This evidence-based program simulates changes associated with cognitive decline. Geriatric specialist, P.K. Beville authored and created the VDT as her post-graduate work. This patented program offers hope by providing practical ways to create an environment that supports the disease and increases understanding.