How the Virtual Dementia Bus Changed Our Perspective

Dementia is a complex condition affecting over 944,000 people in the UK alone, with Alzheimer’s disease being the most common type.  Alzheimer’s disease affects one in 14 people over the age of 65, and one in six people over the age of 80. So understanding the challenges these individuals face is crucial in providing care and support and is at the centre of everything we do here in Wetherby.

We are always looking for ways to increase our knowledge and understanding. Last month, Home Instead Wetherby hosted a unique experience for local professionals and our own Care Professionals—the Virtual Dementia Bus. So much of what we do is community based, so we wanted not just our Care Professionals to have the experience, but other caring professionals and local service people as well.  Among those who attended were Louise, a Learning Disability Care Co-ordinator, and Tanya, a Phlebotomist Care Co-ordinator from Wetherby PCN. Their experience on the bus offered a profound insight into the daily struggles faced by people living with dementia. “We were grateful for this experience” Said Tanya and Louise, “As Health Professional we work closely with patients, families and careers with Dementia, this was a perfect opportunity to try, understand how they see and feel things in their world.”

A Journey into the Mind of Someone with Dementia

Louise and Tanya had heard about the experience through colleagues but didn’t know what to expect. During the experience, the Dementia Bus uses a range of tools and simulations to help participants step into the shoes of a person living with dementia. Louise and Tanya explained, “We were given tools to use to make us try and appreciate how our patients might feel on a day-to-day basis doing just the simple things in life.”

They found the session both enlightening and humbling. The bus helped them understand the sensory overload that people with dementia often experience, such as being in a crowded place and trying to listen to someone speak. This immersive experience is invaluable in helping professionals develop a deeper empathy for those living with dementia.

“We didn’t know what we to expect and WOW, what an eye opener this was, to learn what a Dementia person might be dealing with on a day-to-day basis. If you are given the opportunity to experience this bus, then we would highly recommend you do it. A 10-minute session in the bus will make you see things in such a different light and hopefully give you a better understand on how to help and support someone living with Dementia.”