LTADD Team Experiences the Virtual Dementia Tour

Dementia is a journey that rarely travels alone. Whether it is a personal diagnosis, a family member’s struggle, or a friend’s caregiving exhaustion, most of us have been touched by this disease in some way. It doesn’t discriminate, and its impact ripples through caregivers, families, and the entire community.

At LTADD, we believe that to serve our seniors effectively, we must first truly understand their daily reality. That is why we recently hosted a transformative training session for our CASE (Community Aging & Social Engagement) Team through the Virtual Dementia Tour®.

Led by LTADD Quality Assurance Specialist Marlessa Stark, a Certified Virtual Dementia Tour Community Specialist, our team underwent an immersive experience designed to simulate the physical and mental challenges faced by those living with dementia.

The training wasn’t a lecture, it was an experiential journey. Each participant moved through a specialized individual tour that altered their senses, followed by a deep-dive group debrief to process the experience.

The goal of this training was to move beyond clinical definitions and move into the heart of person-centered care. By experiencing the confusion, sensory overload, and frustration that often accompany dementia, our team walked away with a profound shift in perspective.

The core takeaways were clear:

• More Grace: Understanding that difficult behaviors are often a reaction to a confusing environment.
• More Time: Realizing that tasks we consider simple can become monumental hurdles for those with cognitive impairment.
• More Respect: Remembering the person behind the diagnosis and honoring their dignity at every stage.

Following the tour, our CASE Team gathered to share and reflect. The room was filled with powerful insights as team members processed the sensory-altering experience.

“It’s one thing to read about dementia in a handbook, but it’s another thing entirely to feel the world become a confusing place. This training has changed how I will approach every home visit from here on out,” Marlessa said. 

We invite you to hear directly from our staff about this life-changing training. Check out our video to see our team in action and listen to their personal reflections on how this experience will improve the advocacy and care we provide to our eight-county region.

If you are interested in the science behind this training or want to learn how your organization can better understand the needs of those with memory loss, we encourage you to visit Second Wind Dreams, the creators of the Virtual Dementia Tour.

At LTADD, we are committed to continuous learning. By stepping into the shoes of those we serve, we ensure that the Lincoln Trail region remains a place of compassion, patience, and unwavering support for those living with dementia.