Virtual reality shows small changes can make a big difference

Small changes can make a big difference.

That’s one of the key takeaways almost 60 people from across Otago experienced what life is like living with a diagnosis of dementia last month.

The Educational Dementia Immersive Experience (EDIE) is a virtual reality programme and one of the many training programmes available through Alzheimers NZ’s Dementia Learning Centre.

The training sessions were organised by Alzheimers Otago and were held in Alexandra, Dunedin, Queenstown and Wanaka.

Alzheimers Otago Manager Antoinette McLean says the most powerful thing they heard from participants was how simple the changes can be.

“Slowing down, giving someone more time, or making a space easier to navigate can help a person living with dementia feel supported and included. Experiences like EDIE help turn that understanding into action,” she says.

“It was wonderful to see health professionals, iwi, HomeShare partners, care partners and whānau learning and sharing experiences side by side.

“Dementia affects the whole community, so the whole community must understand it. We’re grateful to our funders for making these sessions possible across Otago.”

The sessions were also an opportunity to support the organisation’s recent fundraiser – the screening of film Human Forever, which explores living with dementia around the globe. EDIE participants were encouraged to join and 65 people attended three screenings.

Some feedback from the training sessions includes:

• A wonderful interactive presentation which I thoroughly enjoyed
• Very valuable course with lots of practical tips. Experiencing how it is really helps remember how to respond to someone with dementia
• This was great, and appreciated the different backgrounds of the other participants

Alzheimers NZ Advisor Services and Standards and trainer Carole Kerr (pictured above) says EDIE shows people how making a little difference can be a big change for the person.

For example, EDIE demonstrates how striped wallpaper may be disorientating for those living with dementia in the middle of night if they’re going to the bathroom.

“I think that people cannot imagine what it’s like until they are immersed in that reality themselves,” says Carole.

“By being part of the experience, looking around and hearing what is happening there is understanding of the emotion and anxiety that a person living with experience may be having. Enabling independence and supporting change are key messages”

Find out more about EDIE and the other training programmes on offer by the Dementia Learning Centre online.