Workshop allows participants to experience ‘dementia moments’

Jewish News
May 7, 2024
by Mala Blomquist

When Jewish Mayor Kate Gallego addressed the crowd at the ribbon cutting in April 2022 for Hospice of the Valley’s Dementia Care and Education Campus (DCEC) in Phoenix, she shared that she had a grandmother who had dementia. She admitted that their family was not well-equipped to deal with the diagnosis and called the new center “a very special place where caregivers and those who need care can get support.”

According to the Governor’s Office on Aging, Arizona’s total population is expected to increase by 80% from 2010 to 2050. During this same period, the number of Arizonans age 65 and older is expected to grow by 174%. By 2025, an estimated 200,000 Arizonans will be affected by dementia, a 43% increase from 2018. Alzheimer’s disease is now the fourth-leading cause of death in Arizona and the top-leading cause for women aged 65 and older.

One of the workshops offered at the DCEC to caregivers and medical professionals who work with dementia patients is “Dementia Moments.” This workshop provides the participant a chance to perform some daily tasks as if they were living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia.

“Combined changes bring challenges to the ability to complete everyday tasks and can be frustrating for the person living with dementia,” said Belinda Ordonez, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CHPN, nurse practitioner with the dementia program at the DCEC. “Gaining insight on the sensory changes can evolve an opinion of perceived ‘behaviors’ to a possible unmet need.”

She added that identifying and addressing unmet needs and using nonpharmacological interventions greatly reduces the need to prescribe medications.

While wearing gloves, goggles and headphones blaring background noise, participants will try to button a shirt, count coins and follow other simple instructions. The goal is not to mimic dementia but to simulate the emotional experience of someone with dementia trying to perform typically while living in a world of distorted perception and diminished cognition.

Participants then share their thoughts and feelings and learn ways to minimize the distress of people living with dementia.

“Having more empathy may decrease caregiver frustration, especially when trying to assist with personal care such as bathing or getting dressed. They can realize the person with dementia is not trying to be ‘difficult,’ they are doing the best they can,” she said.

“Over the past year alone, we have had over 1,500 participants complete the simulation,” said Kylee Volk, associate team leader at the DCEC.

Dementia Moments is offered once every other month and is free to attend, but registration is required. The next session will take place Saturday, July 13, from 12 to 3 p.m.

“The experience of Dementia Moments provides insight into what it might feel like to live with the sensory changes related to advancing dementia. You really see and feel things differently when you are wearing their shoes,” said Ordonez. “This insight not only can create empathy and compassion but also improve interactions, communication and care provided, which improves the quality of life for the person living with dementia.”

For more information, contact 602-636-5393 or email events1@hov.org.