Last month, Home Instead Northwich & Knutsford in collaboration with Northwich Town council and The Rotary in Northwich welcomed members of the local community, healthcare professionals, businesses and organisations to Barons Quay for an immersive Virtual Dementia Bus experience, delivered in partnership with Training2Care.
Over the course of the event, dozens of attendees stepped aboard the specially designed mobile training unit to experience a powerful simulation of some of the everyday challenges faced by people living with dementia.
Understanding Dementia Through Experience
The Virtual Dementia Tour is a unique sensory experience that helps participants better understand how dementia can affect a person’s perception of the world. By wearing specialist equipment that alters vision, hearing, mobility and dexterity, attendees completed everyday tasks while experiencing many of the physical and cognitive challenges associated with dementia.
The experience encouraged greater empathy, awareness and understanding, highlighting how small changes in communication and environment can make a significant difference to someone living with dementia.
The event formed part of Home Instead Northwich & Knutsford’s ongoing commitment to creating a more dementia-friendly community across Northwich, Knutsford and the surrounding areas.
“It’s an incredibly moving experience,” said Clare Marks, Care Manager of Home Instead Northwich and Knutsford “Even just a few minutes inside the bus can completely shift how you understand dementia. It helps carers, families and the wider community develop more patience, compassion, and better ways to support people affected by it.”
One of the attendees was District Nurse Andrea Sayle who said: “It really was an eye opener. It’s made me think completely differently in the way that I interact with people with dementia – simple things like touching a person on the shoulder to get their attention before speaking with them or adapting the environment to make it less noisy.”
Raising Awareness Together
As specialists in dementia care, Home Instead believes that increasing understanding within the wider community is just as important as providing high-quality care at home. Experiences such as the Virtual Dementia Bus help people develop greater patience, compassion and confidence when supporting someone living with dementia.
Home Instead Northwich & Knutsford would like to thank everyone who attended, along with Training2Care and Northwich Town Council, for helping make the event such a success. By working together, we can continue building a more inclusive and dementia-friendly community.
Supporting Families Living with Dementia
Home Instead Northwich & Knutsford provides award-winning, relationship-led home care, with specialist dementia support that enables older adults to remain independent in the comfort of their own homes.
Recent research carried out by Home Instead found that 84% of people believe more should be done to educate families about living with dementia, reinforcing the importance of community initiatives such as the Virtual Dementia Bus.
To further support families, Home Instead has also launched a dedicated YouTube channel featuring real-life experiences, practical advice and guidance for people living with dementia and those caring for a loved one. Visit youtube.co.uk/homeinsteaduk to learn more.
If you would like to find out more about our dementia care services or how we can support you or a loved one, please get in touch with our friendly team.01606 800 101, or visit https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/northwich-Knutsford for more info.
