Imagine this.A constant mix of voices, laughter, background noise, roaring sounds and startling responses. Diminished depth perception and loss of peripheral vision.An endless “pins and needle” sensation occurring in your feet. An impaired ability to feel through your fingers and accomplish a simple task, like buttoning a shirt.This is mid-stage dementia.
Arbor Terrace of Middletown, a newly renovated, independent living Arbor Company community located on Route 35 south in Middletown, invited participants from different business organizations to experience the Virtual Dementia Tour, a nonprofit program supported with more than 10 years of research, proven to help build sensitivity and awareness for people who care for patients with dementia.
The tour is conducted by certified trainers of the community. Participants are suited up with special glasses, headphones, gloves and shoe inserts to temporarily alter the participant’s physical and sensory abilities, simulating a world of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Participants are then guided to a room where they are given a list of five simple, everyday tasks to complete within six minutes.
“I think I was most amazed at how long the six minutes seemed. I knew that for me it was going to end.There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately for older adults with dementia, they can’t ever escape this feeling,” said Gary Garland, Esq. of Garland Law Offices.“For them, this is their daily existence.They can’t remember what they’re supposed to be doing or where they are going.They can’t figure out what clothes to put on or where that disorienting noise is coming from.” The participant is then directed to the debriefing room where they discuss their experiences and emotions felt during the tour.“I personally was so frustrated because I could only remember three of the five directives I was given. I kept walking around and around in circles hoping it would come to me,” states Garland.“It made me appreciate why individuals with dementia become combative and angry. They’ve had all these life experiences and can’t figure out how to fold their laundry or open up the dresser.”
Participants all agree that their perception of aging has been changed since participating in the Virtual Dementia Tour. “We will be more aware of how we speak to individuals with dementia.We will provide step by step instructions.We will speak loudly and slowly with a smile on our face.We will exercise greater patience and attempt to calm down their frustrated children.We will treat them the way we want to be treated should we find ourselves trapped in the cave of dementia with no means of escape,” states Garland. “Again, for us, we knew this experience was temporary, but it was humbling, both for what these dementia victims go through, but also with the realization that in not so many years we may be experiencing this again — but with no reprieve after six minutes.”
To learn more about Arbor Terrace of Middletown and the changes coming to the community, or for more information regarding the Virtual Dementia Tour, call 732-957-0083.