Hanover Scotland staff have taken part in a virtual reality training session to understand better how residents with dementia see the world and how to use that insight to provide better, more effective care.
The Virtual Dementia Tour training, delivered by Training2Care, saw Hanover staff from two developments in Elgin, Linkwood View and Chandlers Court experience sensations felt by those with dementia which explains why they might no longer like watching snooker on TV or want to take their shoes off.
By gaining a better understanding of their reality, staff are now able to understand the motives for particular reactions by a resident and to manage them better. For example, often those with dementia can be considered troublesome or even become violent after refusing to take showers or insisting on taking their shoes and socks off.
Although the VR element of the training lasted only eight minutes, the housing association said their staff gained incredible insights, experiencing the pins and needles sensation of neuropathy that dementia sufferers can experience in their feet which leads to them not wanting to wear shoes or socks because of the discomfort or can lead to showers being painful if the sensation spreads.
They also learned why a resident might not realise a fire on TV isn’t real and call ambulances and police, and that sometimes a black carpet can look like a hole in the ground, causing extreme distress.
The experience was particularly impactful for Scott Page, health, safety and wellbeing manager for Hanover Scotland, whose Dad has been diagnosed with dementia. What Scott found most interesting is that he had been trying to help his Dad watch snooker on TV, something he had always enjoyed doing. He was surprised, therefore, when the snooker being on now seemed to make his father upset.
