Dementia Australia has introduced an innovative virtual reality (VR) workshop, “Dine with Ted (VR),” designed to enhance the dining experience for people living with dementia.
This new training tool aims to equip care workers with the skills needed to create a positive dining environment, which is crucial for those in community, home, or residential care.
The workshop, which lasts three hours and is conducted face-to-face, uses VR and avatar technology to allow participants to see the dining experience from the perspective of someone living with dementia. This immersive approach highlights how physical, environmental, and communication factors can influence behaviour during meals.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said Dine with Ted (VR) is an immersive way for participants to enhance their skills, utilise a problem-solving approach to behaviour, and optimise the dining experience for people living with dementia. She emphasised that the workshop aligns with the upcoming strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards, which place greater importance on dining experiences in aged care settings.
“For people living with dementia in community, home or residential care, a positive dining experience is so important,” said Professor Buchanan.
Launched during Dementia Australia’s “Nourish Connections: Enhancing Dining Experiences for People with Dementia” webinar, the workshop is the latest addition to a series of VR-based educational programs developed by Dementia Australia. These programs are designed to maximise learning outcomes for aged care staff.
Rachel Mead, Regional Quality and Improvement Manager (South) at Regis Aged Care, who participated in the workshop, praised the realistic nature of the VR environment: “The technology used can really transport people to capture different perspectives. It was eye-opening.”
“Dine with Ted (VR)” is suitable for staff supporting people with dementia across various care settings, including residential and home care, making it a versatile tool in improving the quality of life for those living with dementia.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
