Exploring new ways to strengthen dementia workforce learning

The Dementia Learning Centre (DLC) recently completed a pilot of CarePlay – an app-based, game-based learning tool.

The app is designed to help build communication skills and strengthen support for people living with dementia mate wareware through interactive, practice-based scenarios.

Developed by Mentia Health, CarePlay places learners inside everyday care situations where they make decisions, explore different approaches and reflect on the outcomes. The DLC is the Aotearoa New Zealand partner for this technology.

The aim is to help strengthen confidence, empathy, communication and person-centred support in ways that feel practical and relevant to everyday care settings.

The pilot involved three organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand, including one home-based support provider and two residential aged care homes, with staff completing interactive scenarios over an eight-week period.

The results were positive, with 100 percent of participants reporting CarePlay was useful, and 62.5 per cent describing it as “very useful” or “extremely useful”. Many participants described the experience as engaging, thought-provoking and transformative.

Staff reported applying learning directly into practice, including slowing down communication, offering simpler choices, listening more attentively and responding to distress in more supportive and person-centred ways.

One participant reflected: “It changed the way I talk with residents and they responded positively right away.”

Several participants described moments of direct recognition, where a CarePlay scenario mirrored situations they were already navigating in their everyday work – reinforcing the relevance and practical application of the learning.

The pilot also highlighted the importance of reflective learning and shared discussion within teams, with many participants saying the scenarios sparked valuable conversations and deeper understanding among colleagues.

Importantly, the pilot reinforced that workforce learning needs to be flexible, practical and accessible – especially in community services, home-based support, and residential care settings where time and staffing pressures can make traditional training difficult.

The Dementia Learning Centre will continue exploring how innovative, practice-based learning approaches like CarePlay can complement wider workforce development and support more confident, compassionate care for people living with dementia mate wareware across Aotearoa New Zealand.

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