Insights for Dementia Care: Our Virtual Dementia Experience in Southampton
Read how the “Virtual Dementia Experience” event hosted by Home Instead Southampton provided a unique glimpse into the lived experience of those living with dementia.
A glimpse into living with dementia
At Home Instead Southampton, we are committed to providing the best dementia care at home, with high-quality specialist training for our Care Professionals. We continually seek innovative ways to raise awareness across our community and deepen our understanding of living with this condition. With this in mind, we recently hosted the transformative Virtual Dementia Experience Tour at our Southampton office.
“The experience was incredible and offered a profound opportunity to gain awareness and empathy by stepping into the shoes of someone with dementia,” said Greg Harrold, Owner of Home Instead Southampton. “Our goal is to empower everyone — from our team, clients, and their families, to local community members — with the knowledge needed to best support those living with dementia.”
Living with dementia in Southampton
In 2023, there were 1,726 people aged 65 or over in Southampton diagnosed with dementia, according to the Southampton Data Observatory, but the estimated number of those living with the condition was significantly higher at 2,663. This figure is expected to reach 4,480 by 2040. As the number of people living with dementia in our local area continues to rise, understanding the condition has never been more crucial.
As Martin Jones, CEO of Home Instead UK, emphasised, “We want to educate people about this condition. The more people who understand dementia, the better.”
The gold standard in dementia training: Virtual Dementia Experience
The Virtual Dementia Tour, provided by Training2care, is a powerful and immersive simulation that allows participants to experience first-hand the daily challenges faced by someone living with dementia. Widely recognised as the gold standard in dementia training, over 200,000 people across the UK participate in the Virtual Dementia Tour each year, including professionals from NHS Trusts, universities, and various other organisations. We are proud to have brought this transformative training to Home Instead Southampton and our local community.
A successful day in Southampton
“I had a truly enlightening time with Home Instead on Tuesday morning. The dementia bus experience was eye-opening and insightful. Home Instead’s staff were very approachable and welcoming.” – Southampton resident and event attendee
On the day of the event, our office was filled with anticipation as Care Professionals, family caregivers, members of the local media and community gathered to participate in this unique experience. With a warm welcome given to all who attended, the day proved to be both helpful and often unexpectedly moving, shedding light on the realities of living with dementia.
The feedback from all attendees was overwhelmingly positive, giving the experience a 5-star review, praising both the virtual experience and the morning at Home Instead Southampton.
“This was a real eye-opener. I now better understand what life must be like for my clients with dementia. I strongly recommend this experience.” – Care Professional, Home Instead Southampton
Why empathy is key in dementia care
Empathy is at the heart of everything we do at Home Instead Southampton. It is essential in dementia care because it allows our Care Professionals and local office team to deeply understand and connect with the experiences of those living with the condition. By putting ourselves in the shoes of those we support, we can provide compassionate, tailored care that meets both the emotional and physical needs of individuals living with dementia.
Get in touch
If you’re interested in learning more about our services or exploring how we can support your loved ones living with dementia, don’t hesitate to contact us. We provide high quality dementia care at home through our highly trained Care Professionals who visit clients in their own homes across Southampton, Netley, Portswood, Sarisbury, Locks Heath and Shirley.
Discover more about our home care and live-in care services in and around Southampton by calling our friendly and professional team on 01489 345879.
