Dementia Australia has launched an innovative workshop, Dine with Ted (VR) to support care workers to improve the dining experience of people living with dementia.
Dine with Ted (VR) uses virtual reality technology and best practice principles to deliver world class dementia education.
Dementia Australia CEO Professor Tanya Buchanan said the workshop is an immersive way for participants to enhance their skills, utilise a problem-solving approach to behaviours and optimise the dining experience for people living with dementia.
"For people living with dementia in community, home or residential care, a positive dining experience is so important," said Professor Buchanan.
"Dine with Ted (VR) responds to the upcoming strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards around dining experiences for people living in Aged Care, as they have an elevated importance."
The three-hour long face-to-face workshop uses VR and avatar technology to see the dining experience through the eyes of someone living with dementia and demonstrates how physical, environmental and communication factors can cause changes in behaviour.
Launching today to hundreds of attendees at Dementia Australia's Centre for Dementia Learning webinar 'Nourish Connections: Enhancing Dining Experiences for People with Dementia' Dine with Ted (VR) is the latest addition to the suite of workshops by Dementia Australia that utilise VR to maximise the learning outcomes.
Rachel Mead, Regional Quality and Improvement Manager (South) at Regis Aged Care experienced Dine with Ted (VR) and said the VR environment was realistic to the day-to-day work in providing a dining experience for residents.
"The technology used can really transport people to capture different perspectives. It was eye opening." said Ms Mead.
The workshop is suitable for staff providing support to people living with dementia in various care settings, including residential and home care.
