Communities onboard Dementia Bus for Alzheimer’s Month

“The Virtual Dementia Tour is a mobile simulator so our trainees understand the world of the person with dementia.  This life-changing training is scientifically developed to give those with a healthy brain an experience of dementia, so they understand best practice and environments that improve the lives of those with dementia”.

The public can check the location of their nearest simulator experience online, at www.bluebirdcare.ie.  There will be information and advice from dementia care specialists, as well as the eye-opening experience of the ‘dementia bus’ for people dealing with the needs of someone with dementia.

TV personality Maura Derrane is a special ambassador for the awareness campaign, supporting the efforts to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Empathy

Being able to share, and respond to the emotions and experience of another person builds empathy and understanding, she says.

“We all fear the unknown, and dementia can be a worrying experience for the sufferer and their family.  And, importantly, this type of initiative by Bluebird Care gets us all talking about how we can make our communities more inclusive for those with dementia, which is hugely positive”.

Maura Derrane will meet the public at three main regional events, taking place in September, in Galway, Cork, and Cornelscourt in Dublin

There are approximately 55,000 people currently living with dementia in Ireland.  The brain condition has a diverse range of symptoms, depending on type.  It affects memory, communication, and the ability to plan, solve problems, and focus on a task.

Dunnes Stores is supporting the dementia experience with Bluebird Care, hosting the mobile simulator experience at a number of its store locations countrywide.

The Bluebird Care dementia bus training for carers has been overwhelmingly well received, and is having a powerful impact, according to Suzanne Ryan.  A series of challenges alter and overload the senses, illustrating how difficult and deflating it then is to do simple daily tasks; something dementia patients regularly experience.

“Being able to literally walk in the person’s shoes, and understand their situation, is priceless. Dementia presents unique challenges, particularly with early-onset disease.  So, Bluebird Care is heavily invested in growing staff numbers and in specialist training to meet demand.” 

Research by Ulster University indicates that virtual dementia training changes how 95% of trainees approach dementia care, and improves knowledge in 97%.

Bluebird Care has 26 offices nationwide in the Republic of Ireland that are locally-owned and operated.  With Ireland’s growing ageing population, and the challenges of long-term care, caring for people so that they can live safely and comfortably in their own homes, for longer, is the care provider’s goal.

Ireland’s Dementia Statistics

(Dementia Services Information and Development Centre, St. James Hospital, Dublin)

• There are approximately 55,000 people diagnosed with dementia in Ireland, over half of whom are living in the community
• An estimated 141,200 people will have a dementia diagnosis by 2050, with 11,000 new cases each year
• In 2018, dementia was the fourth-highest cause of death in Ireland
• 72% of all long-term care residents are likely to have dementia