Bristol City Council is funding the use of virtual reality for training care home staff to support people with dementia.
It has flagged up its support for training staff at Redfield Lodge care home – its only one to provide dementia care – using the dementia simulator, which gives staff an insight into what life is like for people with the condition.
This involves the Virtual Dementia Tour, developed in the 1990s in the US and which has been used by over 3 million people in 23 countries.
A council spokesperson said: “It is the only medically and scientifically proven method of giving a person with a healthy brain the experience of what dementia might be like.”
The training involves wearing a visual simulator headset, headphones and multi-layered gloves while being instructed in daily activities. It is aimed at helping staff to understand the issues faced by dementia sufferers.
The council indicated that it is aiming to provide the training to all new staff at Redfield Lodge.
Councillor Helen Holland, cabinet member for adult social care, said: “This forward-thinking technology will help staff understand the condition from a patient’s point of view, to help us deliver person centred care with the individual at the heart of decision-making.”
Image from Bristol City Council
