Virtual Reality Connects
Caregivers to Clients
with Dementia
A person with dementia processes
everyday information in a very different
way, one that can present challenging
behavioural and psychological symptoms.
This is often hard for caregivers and
families to understand. It can be
distressing for everyone involved.
But a new virtual reality simulation
developed at Baycrest's Centre for
Education & Knowledge Exchange in
Aging is being tested for its potential to
train people who live and work with older
adults so that they are better equipped to
care for people with dementia.
"The VR dementia simulations allow
formal and informal caregivers to live the
experience of a person with dementia
and literally see the world through their
eyes," says Lisa Sokoloff, manager of
training and simulation.
Initially designed as a tool to raise
empathy, it uses scenarios filmed from
the point of view of a person living with
dementia and from the point of view of a
caregiver. As the work evolves, the hope
is to make the simulation interactive so
that it can develop into a teaching tool
where users can make care choices while
experiencing different scenarios.
"Most of the virtual reality research in
health care is focused on treatment,"
says Sokoloff, "but looking at VR as a tool
for health care education is a very new
innovation. And it's one in which Baycrest
is leading the way."
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