INUVIK
If you have any doubt about what dementia patients suffer through on a daily basis, Tanya Badgley and Samantha Kerr can show you.

Samantha Kerr, a personal support worker instructor with Aurora College, was one of the trainers at a "virtual dementia" workshop at the Inuvik Regional Hospital. The workshop gave students a taste of what people with dementia face on a daily basis. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The two personal support workers (PSW) hosted a workshop at Inuvik Regional Hospital on March 18 for PSW workers and students.

Using modified equipment they had on hand, the two women put the participants through an unsettling, uncomfortable and sometimes outright frightening peek into dementia.

They were outfitted with safety goggles smeared with Vaseline to simulate the visual problems often experienced by dementia patients. Their ears were stuffed with cotton balls to mimic hearing problems. Surgical gloves with several fingers taped together were used to simulate deteriorated motor skills and dexterity, while popcorn kernels were dumped into footwear to diminish mobility.

The participants were then asked to perform some common daily tasks, such as pouring water, folding a towel, putting a jacket on and writing a three-paragraph letter.

No one was able to finish all of the tasks, and they indicated a substantial degree of frustration quickly set in.

"I felt lost, I felt scared," said Jeanette Elanik.

She found the lack of vision most debilitating.

"Visually, it was very difficult. I was nervous and scared at first," she said.

"The experience really opened my eyes."

Following the exercise, Kerr spent several minutes on a debrief with the first round of participants discussing their insights and how it can be applied to their work.

One thing she stressed to the workers was to remember that dementia patients are still capable of following directions and carrying out routine daily chores and activities, but require much more patience and time to carry out what seem like simple tasks.

"They need extra time to process the information and what they're being asked to do," she said.

Elanik and Angeline Irish said they could better appreciate that now. They also said they better understood why it can be intimidating and frightening for patients to interact with healthcare professionals.

"I'm trying to get the awareness out about what people who are living with dementia are actually feeling and what they are going through," said Badgley.

"I'm also trying to increase the awareness of staff and for family members. It just gives you a perspective that you could put yourself into their shoes. I think in the end, once you've experienced a bit of what they go through, it gives you a bit of a different perspective on how to care for them and dealing with them, even if you're just communicating."

It's the second time the program has been run in recent months. The first time, it was held at Aurora College as part of the PSW program classes and Badgley said it was very well received.

"They all said it was a real eye-opener," she said. "You know stuff, and you've been educated in it, but when you actually experience it, you actually feel it."

This is the first time the program has been held at the hospital and opened to staff members, Badgley added.

She and Kerr are now looking into holding the clinics for the general public, particularly people who have family members with dementia.