The Virtual Dementia Experience comes to Hagley
Home Instead Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen promotes a better understanding of dementia and alzheimer's with a virtual tour on 11th August 2025
The importance of understanding dementia
At Home Instead Stourbridge, Hagley and Halesowen we believe it is essential to have a deeper empathy for people living with dementia, so on 11th August 2025 we are pleased to work in partnership with Training2care to bring the virtual dementia experience to Hagley for a second time.
Dementia can be extremely difficult to understand but we realised from the first year how powerful the virtual experience can be. Participants reported that it made them feel very emotional to get first-hand experience in an environment which mimics overloads the senses and impacts cognitive ability to perform basic tasks. It is a truly interactive learning experience which we use to enhance the training of our care professionals and to continually improve our own dementia service as well as educating the wider community.
Everyone commented that they left feeling a genuine appreciation of the challenges faced by someone with dementia and that they would bring what they had learned into their own situation to improve the support that they could give to others. It is predicted that there will be 1.2 million people living with dementia in the UK by 2040, so at home Instead we believe it is vital that we continue to educate communities to become more dementia friendly. One participant said “I felt so disorientated and confused, I just couldn’t think properly so I found it incredibly frustrating. I have learned to be much more patient”.
What is involved in the virtual dementia experience?
The virtual dementia tour uses innovative sensory stimuli to recreate what someone may experience with dementia. You will gain first hand insight in:
- How normal environments can become confusing, distressing and scary.
- How dementia can affect the senses as well as cognitive function.
- The emotional impact of losing the ability to communicate
- The critical behaviours of others that are needed to provide optimal support.
Whether you work in health care, or you are a family member, a community leader or just an interested member of the public, there is a huge amount to be gained from the experience, so give us a call to book a place.
In the morning session, we are offering a number of free places to healthcare professionals, local businesses and community leaders. The afternoon session is open to the public so if you know someone who might benefit, or if you are interested yourself, please book a ticket, or give us a call on 01562 885589.
