‘Dementia Simulator’ rolled into Mayo as part of campaign

The Virtual Dementia Tour rolled into Castlebar this week as part of a nationwide campaign by Dovida to provide family members of people living with dementia with an insight into their loved one’s experience of the condition.

The Virtual Dementia Tour, commonly known as the ‘dementia bus’ or ‘dementia simulator’, will visit Dovida’s 25 locations during its journey, which will see 800 people take part throughout the campaign.  

As well as offering family members a valuable insight into the inner life of someone living with dementia, the company is using the dementia bus as a vehicle to give its caregivers and local healthcare professionals an immersive training experience. 

“This is a uniquely immersive training course which allows people to walk in the shoes of a person living with dementia,” Frances Maloney, General Manager of Dovida Mayo, said.  

The state-of-the-art dementia bus uses technology to replicate the sensory changes associated with dementia. Participants wear goggles, headphones, and spiky insoles. They are then asked to perform everyday tasks, but with distorted vision, loud noises, and sensory overload, which recreate what it’s like to have dementia. 

The experience concludes with an expert-led debrief, which helps participants understand what they have experienced and offers useful tips and strategies to make the world a better place for people living with dementia.