What Is a Virtual Dementia Tour?: Three Essential Tips / Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias
5/19/202627 min
“I don’t think any of us should be trying to assist a person with dementia without first walking in their shoes.” — PK Beville, Ph.D.
Have you ever wondered what it actually feels like to live with dementia? Do you find yourself struggling to understand why your loved one behaves the way they do, wishing you could see the world through their eyes- even for a moment? There’s a powerful tool that can help you do exactly this.
We are Sue Ryan and Nancy Treaster. As caregivers for our loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, we know how much empathy and understanding matter in day-to-day care. We’re sharing insights today from PK Beville, Ph.D., founder of the global nonprofit Second Wind Dreams® and inventor of the Virtual Dementia Tour, a simulation experience that has changed how nearly five million people worldwide understand and care for people living with dementia.
If you’re following along with the Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap, this is part of Step Seven — educating yourself. You can find the full roadmap as an interactive page on our website at thecaregiversjourney.org. Steps one through six help you build your foundation right after a diagnosis. Steps seven through ten are about deepening your understanding, and the Virtual Dementia Tour is one of the essential resources we recommend in this phase.
Let’s explore three essential tips — from understanding what the Virtual Dementia Tour is, to applying what you learn at home, to finding one near you.
Connect with us and share your tips:
- Website: https://thecaregiversjourney.org/
- Donate: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiversjourney/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaregiversjourneys/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suearmstrongryan/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancytreaster/
- Email: sue@thecaregiversjourney.org, nancy@thecaregiversjourney.org
Full Show Notes
Additional Resources Mentioned
- Support the nonprofit The Caregiver's Journey: https://give.cornerstone.cc/thecaregiversjourney
- Second Wind Dreams: https://secondwind.org/
- The Caregiver’s Journey Navigating Dementia Caregiving Roadmap: https://roadmap.thecaregiversjourney.org/ Available as an interactive page on our website that walks you through the three stages of your dementia family caregiver journey. Includes the option to download the guide for free.
Takeaways
We shared 3 tips:
- Learn what happens in a Virtual Dementia Tour
- Apply what you learn at home
- Find a virtual dementia tour near you
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
This is The Whole Care Network. [upbeat music] Helping you tell your story one podcast at a time. [upbeat music] Content presented in the following podcast is for information purposes only. Views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and guests, and may not represent the views and opinions of The Whole Care Network. Always consult with your physician for any medical advice. And always consult with your attorney for any legal advice. And thank you for listening to The Whole Care Network.
Nancy Treaster· Host0:43
Have you ever heard of a virtual dementia tour? Well, now's your chance. Today, I'm talking with PK Beville, founder of the global nonprofit, Second Wind Dreams, and she's also the inventor of the virtual dementia tour. We're gonna talk today about what a virtual dementia tour is and what you can learn from one.
Sue Ryan· Host1:14
[upbeat music] Welcome. We're Sue Ryan.
Nancy Treaster· Host1:18
And Nancy Treaster.
Sue Ryan· Host1:19
This podcast brings our years of experience in a variety of family caregiving roles to prepare you to navigate your caregiving journey.
Nancy Treaster· Host1:27
We're sharing our personal experiences,