Care teams given an insight into life with dementia
At EveryDay Care & Support, we believe that extensive training around dementia is essential. We have developed our own internal training with Admiral Nurses to cover dementia, delirium and depression. However, we also recognise that external training is important too.
Our care teams are also provided with an immersive ‘Virtual Dementia Tour‘. This puts the carer in the shoes of those living with dementia.
The Virtual Dementia Tour is delivered by Training 2 Care UK Ltd, the only licenced provider in the country. The training is delivered in 7 languages and 20 countries.
Staff have their senses and movements restricted and are deliberately made to feel confused as part of the experience.
The aim is to give our staff the best chance possible of understanding what people living with dementia are facing every day. This supports their families and carers to continue in their caring and supportive role.
How our team felt
Viv Kirby, Care at Home Manager, said, “The purpose of the training is to put the carers in the position of somebody living with dementia to experience, potentially, what they are experiencing, which will give them an insight into how the way we care has an impact on them.
“Everyone has found it really beneficial, a real eye-opener into the impact of things which we would do with people on a daily basis – preparing food, our approach and how we talk to people.
“I did the training myself and I found it amazing.”
Ashleigh McDine, Wellbeing Centre Manager, said: “I had insoles in my shoes which were really uncomfortable, headphones on with sirens and music going off and I could barely see anything out of the glasses I wore.
“It was hard to go through but a good insight into how the everyday lives of people living with dementia might be.
“It was an eye-opening experience and it will definitely change the way I work and hopefully help to change the lives of the people we work with for the better.”
Maureen Rankin, a Personal Support Assistant at Crossgates in Wallsend, added: “It really brought home how the people we support might be feeling.
“For parts of it I was absolutely terrified but it was definitely worth it. I will do my job better because of it.”
Access our specialist Dementia services
To chat to someone about our specialist dementia care available in North Tyneside and Newcastle, call 0191 287 7028 or click here.
Our three Wellbeing Centres in North Tyneside provide respite for carers and a social, safe and engaging environment for those living with dementia. You can find out more about our Wellbeing Centres here.
Age UK North Tyneside’s Admiral Nurses also offer specialist support through the Dementia Connections Service.
Join our team
We are recruiting experienced care staff for our dementia services in both North Tyneside and Newcastle. Call 0191 287 7011 or click here to view our current vacancies.