Home Instead UK has, once again, taken its dementia experience bus on tour to give people the rare opportunity to step into the shoes of someone living with the condition.
Having taken a tour last year, the bus was back at the company’s national office in Cheshire, as part of a nationwide tour that saw Home Instead franchise owners raise awareness of dementia in communities across the country, from Brighton to Northwich.
Owned by Training2Care and sponsored by Home Instead, the bus is supported by medical research and uses technology to replicate the sensory changes associated with dementia. Participants wear goggles, headphones and spiky insoles before undergoing the immersive experience, where they are asked to perform everyday tasks but with distorted vision, loud noises and sensory overload.
Many of Home Instead’s clients live with dementia, so the company was keen to encourage people to undergo the experience to try and get an understanding the daily challenges faced by people living with the condition.
The experience included a debrief to help participants understand what they have experienced as well as sharing useful tips and strategies to make the world a better place for people living with dementia. It was a tearjerker for many, particularly those who have loved ones living with the condition.
Ruth Brown, Chief Operating Officer of Home Instead UK, said: “My mother was diagnosed with mixed dementia five years ago. I’ve worked for Home Instead for 15 years and have learnt a lot about dementia in that time, but nothing can prepare you when a loved one is diagnosed. I knew it would be tough, but I was keen to undergo the experience myself to gain a better understanding of the condition my mother is living with.
“I was delighted to see the event so well-attended; it’s a sign that we’re moving towards a future where we’re more dementia aware. There are nearly a million people in the UK living with dementia, and that’s set to grow to 1.4 million by 2040. It’s important for all of us to take up every chance we get to learn more.”
Amongst the guests were clients’ family members, representatives from Home Instead’s national office team and Louise Lynch, who hosts a podcast called ‘Do I Sound Like I Care?’, which explores the role of caring for family members, with a focus on dementia.
