A unique immersive experience aimed at helping people better understand what it can feel like to live with dementia is taking place on Wexford Quay today as part of World Alzheimer’s Day.
Bluebird Care’s Immersive Experience Bus will be on the quay from 10am until 4.30pm, offering members of the public the chance to take part in a free Virtual Dementia Tour.
The experience takes around eight minutes and no advance booking is required.
Participants are fitted with gloves, goggles and headphones which alter their sense of touch, sight and hearing before they are asked to complete a number of simple, everyday tasks.
The aim is to recreate some of the confusion, frustration and sensory difficulties that can be experienced by people living with dementia.
According to Bluebird Care, many participants are unable to complete the tasks and leave the experience with a new perspective on how their own home environment or communication style could affect a loved one with dementia.
It can prompt people to consider simple changes, such as lighting in the home, background noise, or how quickly they speak when communicating with someone affected by the condition.
The Bluebird Care Wexford team will be on Wexford Quay throughout the day to speak to members of the public and provide further information.
The Virtual Dementia Tour runs from 10am to 4.30pm and is free to attend.