Virtual reality is now being used to aid dementia care. A new program is training staff to better understand the experience of dementia and create empathy for patients, as well as build skills. The program is based on the idea that understanding dementia can give insight into approaches that soothe, rather than trigger, patients.

Dementia Reality® is “The first dementia instruction program combining skills training with real-life obstacles in a virtual environment,” says the program’s website. “The outcome is more empathetic caregivers and happier, engaged patients.”

A McKnight’s Senior Living article, “Dementia-focused programming highlights individuals over disease,” interviewed dementia educator and care consultant Jeannine Forrest, Ph.D., RN. She told McKnight’s Senior Living that Dementia Reality is unique in allowing the learner to experience empathic and non-empathic responses to caregiving situations.

Dementia Reality names the following benefits for clients and residents:

• Improved quality of care: Focus on personhood and unconscious bias facilitates awareness of resident and family preferences, values, cultural traditions, and socio-economic conditions.
• Improved behavioral outcomes and decreased use of psychotropic medications.
• Increased safety: Better communication, improved care means fewer falls and other injuries.
• Enhanced care relationships, improved quality of life.

Chicago eldercare provider CJE SeniorLife, which has a specialty in developing and offering dementia-friendly programming, and Elderwerks Educational Services, which acts as a guidance counselor for older adults, have collaborated to produce Dementia Reality.

Providing Workforce Solutions

Dementia Reality’s long-term vision includes addressing workforce challenges. Program leaders hope to improve job satisfaction and staff retention by giving staff the skills and understanding they need to provide dementia care.

This type of effort aligns with recommendations by Steven Landers, M.D., MPH, President and CEO, VNA Health Group, who spoke at the recent Collaborative Care Tech Summit co-hosted by LeadingAge and the LTPAC Health IT Collaborative. The Summit took place online June 7-8, 2022.

In his keynote “Fixing the Workforce Issues Faced by the Healthcare and Services Eco-System,” he emphasized the industry’s need to prepare for growing numbers of older adults who need support with daily living and chronic conditions, as well as severe shortages of caregivers, Registered Nurses, geriatricians, and other healthcare professionals. As solutions, Landers suggested encouraging innovation, including looking at ways to expand education opportunities and virtualization of care. He also recommended involving learners in elder care.

The July Tech Time carried a summary of his remarks in “Worker Shortage Solutions and New CMMI Direction.” You may view his full keynote on-demand through the Summit event page.

Dementia Care and AI and Smart Home Tech

The McKnight’s Senior Living article also noted an upcoming tech initiative to support dementia care. It announced that the Sol and Arlene Bronstein Foundation funded the University of Southern Indiana Foundation to expand dementia care programs and advance care-planning education.

Of the $1 million awarded, $250,000 will provide immediate funding to five initiatives. One initiative will develop and/or enhance artificial intelligence and/or smart home technology to support people living with dementia.