Seminar teaches empathy for those with dementia

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Angela Hospice hosted an enlightening in-service for healthcare professionals last week with education provided by Balanced Home Care. This "Virtual Dementia" in-service included a presentation on the signs, symptoms, and progression of dementia, as well as providing the opportunity to undergo a virtual reality simulation.

Participants were asked to perform a variety of simple tasks while wearing a simulator that affected their vision, hearing, and sense of balance, to mimic what it is like to have dementia.

The idea was to instill "empathy, not sympathy" in participants. Experiencing a firsthand glimpse of the challenges faced by those with dementia can create a greater understanding for healthcare workers and help them to better meet the needs of patients with dementia.

"It was really incredible to be able to imagine what it's like to be in someone's shoes who struggles with dementia," said one participant.

"It made me way more empathetic to the needs of the patient," said another attendee.

Balanced Home Care CEO Chris Warburton (left) created the program, which was presented with the help of his colleagues Emma Zubeck, Wendy Colf, and Charlisa Reblin.


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