The Activity
I recently had the opportunity to participate in a Virtual Dementia Tour. Here’s how it worked:
- I signed a waiver and walked into a dimly lit room.
- Upon entering I see several tables as in a conference-type room. Four were positioned for the tour and covered with various things:
- Table one – all sorts of clothing, shoes, accessories
- Table two – dishes, glasses, silverware set like a dinner table
- Table three – pitcher of water and a stack of plastic drinking cups
- Table four – paper and pencil
- A pair of large garden gloves were placed on my hands.
- I was given a pair of glasses that were shaded in areas so that I could not see through the entire lens.
- I was given a verbal list of six tasks that couldn’t be repeated. I was not allowed to ask questions.
- As soon as I was given the verbal list of tasks, headphones were placed over my ears. I heard music, an occasional siren, and voices interrupting the music – all at the same time.
- I had 2 minutes to complete the following tasks:
- Fill a plastic cup with water from the pitcher
- Clear the kitchen table
- Place the belt on the pants
- Button the shirt
- Write your name on a piece of paper
- Something with a tie – I didn’t hear the instruction clearly
You’re probably wondering, “How’d I do?” The instructor said, “You did pretty good.”
Tasks completed:
- I removed a plastic cup from the stack and filled it with water
- I cleared the kitchen table
- I wrote my name on the piece of paper.
Tasks not completed:
- I couldn’t find the shirt to button from the pile of clothing on the table
- I couldn’t find the belt to put on the pants from the same pile
- I didn’t hear the instruction for the tie
50%. This was harder than you might think. The hardest part was not being able to see; and those gloves…
The Reason
I spent several years working in memory care facilities providing massage for hospice patients. Because of my work with this special population, I have a very tender place in my heart for those with memory-zapping disease. So, I jumped at the opportunity to attend the Hope for the Future Workshop in Hot Springs. It’s an annual event and designed for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients. In addition to the Virtual Dementia Tour, many vendors were represented; hospice agencies, health and rehabilitation services, assisted living facilities, financial and tax services, as well as many others.
Dr. Mark Pippenger, the key-note speaker, did a great job explaining the disease. He is a Behavioral Neurologist and has a special interest in neurological diseases affecting memory, thinking and behavior, which includes Alzheimer Disease and Dementia.
The Take-Away
- Dementia and Alzheimer Disease are different. Prior to this learning experience, I thought Dementia was a pre-cursor for Alzheimer’s Disease – not so.
- Dementia is a group of symptoms that affects mental cognitive tasks such as memory and reasoning.
- Think of Dementia as an umbrella term that Alzheimer’s disease can fall under.
- Dementia is a clinical syndrome, not a disease.
- Dementia is diagnosed when there are cognitive or behavioral symptoms that:
- Interfere with the ability to function
- Represent a decline from previous function
- Are not caused by a psychiatric disorder
- The ability to function is very important in the evaluation of Dementia.
- It’s common to be low on B12 if you have Dementia
- Alzheimer’s Disease presents with:
- Memory loss – most of us know this
- Inability to see – brand new information for me
- Inability to do complex acts
- Some memory loss is normal as we age; until it affects function.
Two BIG take-aways for me:
- Alzheimer’s affects your vision
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease are not the same
Cindy and I are looking at ways we can incorporate a similar Virtual experience in our Clinical-Skills at the End-of-Life Training. We are both visual learners and are confident that a similar experience could benefit our students. Stay tuned!
Questions? Please get in touch. FinalTouchTraining.com
Prepared by: Susan Gee, LMT
