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Unique Program Simulates Dementia
<< BACK | Download Word File Vancouver, May 26, 2006 — Providence Health Care has partnered with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. to participate in the Alzheimer Society's new, leading edge program Making the Connection – The Dementia Experience – the first and only one of its kind in BC – that offers a simulated dementia experience where the senses are artificially altered through various techniques. Making the Connection – The Dementia Experience offers professional caregivers a chance to walk in the shoes of a person who has dementia, and helps participants understand what a person with dementia feels, hears and sees. The program is completed with a debriefing and an education workshop. "We are providing education for residential care staff to gain insight into what people with dementia endure in their day-to-day lives. PHC is one of the first health organizations in BC to offer this type of innovative training to staff. This also ties in well with the Eden Alternative – the guiding philosophy at PHC's residences, which aims to eliminate loneliness, helplessness and boredom," says Dr. Elizabeth Drance Physician Program Director in Elder Care at Providence Health Care. "When you work with people who have dementia, you may understand what's going on at an intellectual level, but what has often been lacking is training that creates a deeper human understanding," says Betty Sinclair, Director of Support and Education for the Alzheimer Society of B.C. "We think it's exciting that an organization like Providence saw the value in this program, and were the first to come on board." The Alzheimer Society developed the two-part course to give professional caregivers insight and skills to help inspire change in the way they provide care to people with dementia. About 600 people, including 525 staff from Providence, have completed Making the Connection – The Dementia Experience since its launch. For more information about Making the Connection – The Dementia Experience, call 604-681-6530 or e-mail adevries@alzheimerbc.org. - 30 - Media contact: PHC Communications media pager: 604-667-4397 Alzheimer Society of B.C. Media contact: Ariela Friedmann, Senior Manager, Communications: Ph: 604-681-6530 E-mail: afriedmann@alzheimerbc.org << BACK | Download Word File |
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