On 5 March the Hospital was visited by the Dementia Bus!
Funded by the Friends after a request from the staff, this bus is specially designed to simulate the effects that dementia can have for individuals. Staff were able to experience a simulation of how dementia can affect your physical ability, sensory perception, and emotional experience.
The feedback from staff about this wonderful facility was overwhelmingly positive, with many taking the time to let the Friends know how valuable they found the training! Here is just a selection of comments from staff:
- “I visited the bus with some of my team, and found it invaluable – it really helps you get an idea of the challenges Dementia patients face and made us think about how we can do things differently to help improve their experience, either at the Hospital or out in the community.”
- “I found it to be a valuable snapshot into the lives of those whose suffer with Dementia and what they experience daily.”
- “Just thought I would let you know how useful I found the dementia bus today. It really gives you a sensory insight in to how someone with dementia could be feeling, and the problems they are facing trying to do the simplest of things.”
- “I have never experienced anything like this before and learned a lot. I had no idea about some of the feelings that were simulated, e.g. how loud the distortion and noise was for some people with dementia. I could relate a lot of the aspects to patients we have looked after and will use this knowledge in the future when working with patients with dementia. It was good to see staff from all over the hospital, clinical and non-clinical also attending.”
- “I found the Dementia Bus experience to be very helpful. I had no idea what to expect and it was not pleasant. I found myself feeling discomfort physically because of the inserts put into our shoes showing why people suffering from dementia may shuffle along to ease the pain felt in their feet. I found myself getting increasingly frustrated as I could not complete the simplest of tasks, and the constant noise made me feel quite confused and the sudden loud outbursts of noise made me jump. Wearing the goggles clouded my sight. This experience gave me a real insight into how people suffering with dementia feel on a daily basis and how difficult it is to cope.”
- “I found to be a valuable snapshot into the lives of those whose suffer with Dementia and what they experience daily. I feel that staff would benefit greatly from this experience, particularly for those who have direct contact with Dementia sufferers.”
The Friends are delighted that this was such a success, and that staff found the training really valuable. Whether a nurse, radiographer, cleaner, or another role within the hospital, this additional learning can only help staff understand patients more and provide better support. It is only via the generous donations of people within our local community that we can fund such things, and we are very grateful for those who donate. Physical experiences like this mean so much more than words, and we are confident that staff will remember their training in the Dementia Bus for years to come.
