14/04/2025
On Friday all the staff participated in a dementia training day with the Virtual Dementia Tour.
Staff comments about the training included:
It gave "An insight into how people with dementia feel", "A new perspective" on residents in care settings.
It made them feel "Not in control", "Confused", "Agitated", "Vulnerable".
Staff said it was "scary watching somebody who doesn't know what to do" and they liked "being able to observe other carers being put in the position of residents as it was grounding to see the changes in behaviours and their characters".
Staff spoke about what they will take away from the training and their thoughts and reflections:
"I want to be the best carer I can be and be more understanding"
"I'll be more knowledgeable about dementia and how it affects them. How scary it can be for them on a daily basis and how challenging it must be for them"
"It was very sentimental, emotional and uncomfortable... getting to really feel and experience what the residents go through it was educational"
"It was a reminder to be incredibly sensitive to the residents needs and why they may respond in a certain way due to being overwhelmed"
The training day also included Lifting the Lid (The Alzheimer's Society guide to intimacy in older people), following the Virtual Dementia Tour, where staff shared their thoughts and experiences of intimacy in those they support and group discussions held about how best to support residents where staff may themselves, feel uncomfortable.
