HUDSON – Artisan at Hudson, a senior living facility, is offering a new, interactive experience where members of the public can undergo a virtual simulation designed to increase understanding and empathy around what people with dementia go through on a daily basis.
The simulation idea originated from the Teepa Snow model, which focuses on understanding the stages of dementia to improve treatment.
Inspired by this model, the SageLife team aimed to enhance the resources available to caregivers and its staff for managing the disease. As a result, on June 27, the first run of the hands-on approach was done using Second Wind’s virtual dementia tour.
“Knowledge is everything and education is everything,” said Resident Care Director and Director of Nursing Michelle Melaragni. “We’re not the kind of community that says ‘read this’ or ‘take this training.’ We wanted to do something hands-on so that when we talk about how difficult it is for people to zipper or button, the staff will know what we’re really trying to say. They have a better understanding when our residents say, ‘I can’t’ because they really can’t.”.
The people who benefit from the experience extend beyond the staff at Artisan.
“The goal in doing this training is to educate and bring awareness to folks who have dementia and simulate what they’re going through as closely as we possibly can so we can talk about it,” Melaragni said.
RELATED CONTENT: Artisan at Hudson hosts vaccine clinic for associates and residents
Since the entire purpose of the exercise is to emulate the confusion and emotions that someone with dementia may experience, minimal information is provided to participants in advance. Instead, participants are adorned with a variety of different tools (ex. gloves, goggles, headphones), all with the intention of altering the senses.
They are then placed in a room with no clear instructions, only the thought that they should know what to do. The different variables result in a wholly uncomfortable experience that leaves people with a fuller, more compassionate view of the disease.
Vikki Levine, who works at Ezra Home Care, LLC, attended the training simulation.
“I want to understand what my clients and families are dealing with on a 24/7 basis,” Levine said.
Officer Wendy LaFlamme, a police officer and the senior liaison for the town of Hudson, underwent the experience to try and gain more perspective to aid her in her job. As the senior liaison, she often manages issues pertaining to those with dementia. Despite her extensive experience with seniors, she was still surprised by the extent of the debilitating nature of the disease.
“It made me sad,” LaFlamme said. “I was overwhelmed. It makes you really think about how we react to somebody who has dementia. How just a simple saying ‘hi’ to somebody with dementia can scare them or trigger something.”
LaFlamme spoke to the complete immersion that the simulation provided.
“I can’t imagine this going on every day,” LaFlamme said. “It’s not like you could shut one thing out. You could shut your eyes, but the noise wasn’t stopping.”
How to participate
The experience is open to anyone who has an interest in attending. It will be run quarterly and into 2025. Those who are interested are able to reach out by calling the facility or by following the post on its website.
“We want to have as many people experience this as possible,” Melaragni said.
Melaragni emphasizes the benefits of attending for caregivers and patients alike.
“They need help. They need support. They need compassion. They need kindness, and most of all they need understanding about the disease process,” Melaragni said.
For more information about Artisan at Hudson, visit their website.
