Imagine seeing the world through the eyes of someone living with dementia. Hundreds of staff in Calvary’s aged care homes in locations in Melbourne and regional Victoria have donned virtual reality goggles in Dementia Australia workshops over the past few months to do just that.
The immersive training helps staff develop deeper insight and understanding of the symptoms and impact of dementia, and the needs of people living with the condition.
“Dementia can impact memory, speech, cognition, personality, and mobility,” Calvary Strategic Operations & Performance – Aged Care Jo Skonieczna Masri said.
“It can also change a person’s behaviour, making them at times feel anxious, fearful, distressed, or disoriented.
“This experiential training is enhancing our staff’s skills and confidence, helping them better understand how stress affects a person with dementia, recognise emotional and physical signs of escalation, and how to de-escalate situations.
“How we communicate and respond – whether through words, gestures, movement, or facial expressions – can make a real difference.”
Calvary Personal Care Worker Makleen Saksak agreed.
“I love what I do, and this VR training is already helping us see and better understand how it is to live and be with dementia,” she said.
