As a way to highlight and support people living with dementia, during Dementia Awareness Month this September, LiveWell Care visited Alzheimer’s Australia to participate in their Educational Dementia Immersive Experience (EDIE). LiveWell Care’s Managing Director Angus Kerr was profoundly impacted by the session as described below.
Over the course of my 17 years working as a social worker and case manager in community aged care sector, I have tried to imagine what it is like for the individuals I have supported who were or are living with dementia. Despite having hundreds, if not thousands of conversations with individuals living with the disease and with their families and carers, I have never really had a lived experience of dementia. That changed recently when I was fortunate enough to participate in Alzheimer’s Australia’s Educational Dementia Immersive Experience (EDIE) at Alzheimer’s Australia’s Hawthorn headquarters. The Enabling EDIE Interactive Workshop is a 3 hour facilitated session. The session commences with the use of virtual reality (VR) gear, and gaming technology including VR goggles and noise cancelling headphones, to explore a moment in time as Edie, a gentleman living with dementia.
I was joined by 15 other aged care professionals who work across home care, residential care, placement services, relocation services and financial advice. The session was facilitated by Chris, a passionate and experienced registered nurse who has been working in the dementia field for 40 plus years.
Although the group was made up of professionals, the EDIE experience is often used as part of a facilitated counselling or support session with family and carers, to enhance their knowledge of dementia and improve empathy and communication with the person living with dementia.
The use of VR Technology in this field is cutting edge and there has been a huge response from around the globe by those wanting to replicate the experience. In a time where giving away ‘spoilers’ is seriously frowned upon, I will avoid describing the scene of stepping into the virtual world of EDIE, other than saying that it gives an incredible, impactful insight into how people living with dementia can perceive their environment.
The visual and audible experience was at times confronting but it immediately enabled me to reflect on my practice and how I can best “Engage, Enable and Empower” the consumers I work with who live with or support a person living with dementia.
The EDIE experience is more than just a VR experience. It is a facilitated workshop that will assist family and friends supporting a person living with dementia to develop an increased understanding of dementia across various stages and it will enable all of us to have increased empathy for that person.
Most of all the session reinforced how changes in our communication, behaviour and environment can benefit a person living with dementia and their loved ones.
If you or someone you know is caring for someone living with dementia and would like to experience the Enabling EDIE Interactive Workshop I would strongly encourage and recommend it. Contact National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 for more information or visit Alzheimer’s Australia to book online.