Seeing dementia more clearly
By Shannon Flaherty
The Center for Healthy Aging offers virtual dementia tours (VDT) to help healthcare professionals understand the impact dementia has on their patients. Backed by science and implemented in 21 countries, VDT training has now been made available to hundreds of Hartford HealthCare colleagues. The author, part of the marketing communications team at CHA, participated in the tour and learned the value of empathy.
Here’s her story: What began as an assignment to take photos of the tour became a profoundly emotional experience, deepening my understanding of the challenges faced by those living with dementia.
VDS, I learned, empowers colleagues to reduce distress and improve the quality of life for people with dementia.
“Educating colleagues about dementia is crucial. It helps them understand and support people living with dementia,” says Angela Christie, dementia specialist and the reason VDT is available.
For the simulation, I was fitted with equipment simulating the sensory challenges experienced by someone with dementia — uncomfortable spiky shoe inserts, thick gloves and vision-distorting goggles left me struggling with simple tasks. More disorienting were the overwhelming sounds in the headphones — voices, sirens and a car backfiring — which created confusion and anxiety as I mistakenly thought the backfire was a gunshot.
The eight-minute VDS experience gave me a glimpse into the disorientation and frustration caused by dementia. Asked to slip a belt through pant loops, the sensory overload I experienced made the task nearly impossible.
As Christie explained, “Knowing the symptoms of dementia allows colleagues and caregivers to identify potential issues and respond appropriately.”
The training also emphasizes the need for knowledgeable professionals to guide patients with dementia through daily challenges. In a debriefing after the simulation, we discussed how sounds like a car backfiring could trigger fear and confusion. I then understood how what might seem like erratic behavior is often a response to a world that feels increasingly unsafe. One colleague, whose mother lives with dementia, shares: “(VDT) changed my whole outlook on the care I give. I do my job differently now. I know I do it better.”
The experience taught me that dementia care is about more than medical treatment; it’s about compassionate support and upholding patient dignity.
Christie aptly says, “Improving the quality of care creates a more inclusive workplace environment for everyone. Learning how to communicate clearly and patiently with someone living with dementia can improve interactions and help minimize frustration for everyone.”