The impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia is affecting more than 47 million people worldwide with an estimated increase to 75 million by 2030.
Gaining a deeper understanding is how caregivers and families can see how this overwhelming disease comes to change the life of the person living with it. Second Wind Dreams, an award-winning Dreams Program, came to shed the light on this particular aspect with their Virtual Dementia Tour at Belmont Village Hunters Creek.
The 20-minute experience simulates the effects of aging and dementia, giving the viewer the opportunity to walk in the loved one’s shoes. With this program, caregivers and family cannot only understand the physical and mental challenges, they can also be empowered to provide better care and support.
Ashley Marcellus, executive director, Belmont Village Hunters Creek, said they hosted the Virtual Dementia Tour to provide an opportunity for their Senior Living and Memory Care staff and family as well as the Houston community to gain insight into the daily life of living with dementia.
“The experience is eye-opening, even for the most knowledgeable person,” Marcellus said. “I think our staff members came out with a new perspective on what our memory care residents go through. This tour could be of benefit for anyone who interacts with or provides care for someone with dementia. We look forward to bringing more educational opportunities such as this to our community.”
Dementia, which requires a medical diagnosis, has a wide variety of symptoms including forgetfulness, limited social skills and impaired thinking abilities, which can interfere with daily functioning.
In addition, there are cognitive issues such as memory loss, mental decline, confusion in the evening hours, disorientation, inability to speak or understand language, making things up, mental confusion, or inability to recognize common things.
It also can affect behavior and mood from personality changes to restlessness, irritability, anxiety, loneliness, and mood swings. Muscle movements and speech will also present signs of the illness.
The seven stages of Alzheimer’s begin at Stage 1 with no impairment and progress to very severe cognitive decline at Stage 7.
Dell Van Liew, son of memory care resident at Belmont Village Hunters Creek, participated in the Virtual Dementia Tour, and was surprised at what he saw.
“I honestly had no idea what to expect, but this experience gave me perspective on what my mom is going through. I didn’t realize how hard it is for her to accomplish simple tasks that we do every day yet take for granted. I recommend everyone who has a loved one or cares for someone with dementia try this, so they can get a glimpse of what living with dementia is like,” said Van Liew.
Belmont Village Hunters Creek and VITAS Healthcare plan on hosting the event again later in the near future to provide another opportunity for people to go through the experience.
Those interested can call Belmont Village Hunters Creek at 713-781-1505 to get more information.
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