Langley Memorial Hospital staff had the unique opportunity to step into the shoes of a person living with dementia, thanks to an immersive training experience developed by Bria Communities.
In 2024, Dr Joy Liao, Geriatrician for Langley Memorial Hospital, reached out to the Bria Communities team with an invitation to collaborate with them on training staff during Delirium Awareness Week in 2025. “Dr Liao was a participant in a hands-on dementia experience that we hosted a few years ago, and her hope was that we could modify it and make it accessible for the staff at Langley Memorial,” reports Janice Miller, Marketing Manager for Bria Communities.
After almost a year of collaboration, the result is a powerful 15-minute experience that gives participants firsthand exposure to the challenges faced by individuals with dementia. This is followed by a debriefing session led by trained facilitators from Bria Communities who guide participants in processing their experience. “The simulation part of the experience can be frustrating and disconcerting for people,” says Miller. “And so the debrief is essential. It gives people a chance to process and learn together.”
Through Delirium Awareness Week (March 11-14, 2025), staff from various hospital departments—including physiotherapists, security guards, nurses, administrators, and emergency room personnel—took a few minutes out of their day to imagine themselves as someone living with dementia. The feedback from the 104 people who participated was overwhelmingly positive.
One participant commented, “I really feel like I have a deeper understanding of some of the many challenges dementia patients face. Thank you.” Another staff member reflected, “My experience was intense and shocking. I had no idea how seniors felt when they have dementia. I learned a lot.” Others echoed these sentiments, calling the training “eye-opening” and sharing that it has led them to approach dementia patients with greater compassion.
It was so encouraging to see how often the feedback centred around changing their behaviour when working with seniors living with dementia,” says Janice. “It’s awesome to think that our investment could change the quality of care for Langley seniors with dementia when they’re at the hospital.”
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