Eye-Opening Insights: Home Instead Wetherby’s Virtual Dementia Tour
Recently, team members from Home Instead Wetherby participated in a unique and powerful experience: the Virtual Dementia Tour.
At Home Instead Wetherby we are committed to deepening our understanding of the challenges faced by those living with dementia. Recently, team members from Home Instead Wetherby, Ilkley, along with local Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and other healthcare professionals, participated in a unique and powerful experience: the Virtual Dementia Tour. This immersive event gave participants a rare glimpse into what life is like for individuals with dementia, allowing them to better empathise with the people they care for every day.1
What Is the Virtual Dementia Tour?
The Virtual Dementia Tour is designed to simulate the physical and mental challenges experienced by people living with dementia. The tour took place on a specially equipped bus, offering participants the chance to experience the heightened senses, confusion, and frustration that often accompany the condition. The goal of the experience is simple yet profound. The bus aims to enhance the way those working with and caring for people with dementia approach and manage their relationships, and so consequently improve their ability to offer tailored, compassionate care.
Reflecting on the Experience
For many of the participants, including Simon, who has been with Home Instead Wetherby for nine years, the tour was a sobering experience. “It was a bit scary actually,” he shared. “It was incredibly insightful, showing some of the challenges people with dementia face. We often make assumptions about what it’s like, but this experience showed us there’s still so much more we can do to make life better for our clients.”
Similarly, Karen from Carers Leeds reflected on how the tour stretched the training she had already received: “It was a real eye-opener. You think you have an understanding, but this shows how much more there is that we don’t know.” She added that the experience will enhance her ability to care for those living with dementia. “It’s going to make us better.”
Tanya, a Phlebotomist Care Co-Ordinator. agreed. “The constant noise was a surprise for me. You don’t realise how heightened sound and other senses can be for those living with dementia,” she said. Nicola, another Care Professional with Home Instead found the experience overwhelming, yet incredibly worthwhile. “It has opened our eyes to what our clients manage on a day-to-day basis,” they remarked.
The Importance of Understanding Dementia
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, over 850,000 people in the UK are living with dementia. Dementia is not a normal part of aging, and its effects on memory, reasoning, and perception can be devastating—not only for those diagnosed but also for their families. The Virtual Dementia Tour provided a stark reminder of the complexities of dementia and underscored the importance of empathy and specialized care.
All participants agreed that the experience directly mirrored what they see in their clients every day. “Everything we saw and heard on the bus is what we manage when caring for our clients,” they explained. “By offering our knowledge, expertise, and kindness, we can make our clients’ daily lives so much better.”
Moving Forward with Compassion
This Virtual Dementia Tour was more than just a training session—it was an unforgettable, eye-opening experience. As the participants reflected on what they learned, one thing became clear: to provide the best possible care for individuals with dementia, we need to truly understand the condition from their perspective. The Care professionals present on the day are now busy behind the scenes creating a training programme for other Care Professionals working for Home Instead Wetherby. We are going to make sure this experience enhances as many of our client interactions as possible.
At Home Instead Wetherby, we are committed to continuously enhancing the care we provide to those living with dementia. Through experiences like the Virtual Dementia Tour, we can offer even greater empathy, support, and specialized care, ensuring that our clients feel safe, understood, and valued.
For more information about dementia and how you can support those affected, visit Alzheimer’s Society or Dementia UK.
If you have a family member who is experiencing the symptoms of dementia and you feel like they could use some additional support. Please reach out to us at the office, we’d love to find out more about your loved one.
