Dementia LIVE Helps Public Better Understand Living with Alzheimer’s

Joumana McGowan, Community College Executive Leader and proud advocate for Alzheimer’s and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) research features a unique event that helps the public better understand what living with Alzheimer’s, dementia or cognitive impairment is like.

Dementia LIVE is a dementia simulation program that immerses participants in what life with Alzheimer’s feels like. Joumana McGowan, a longtime advocate for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Research, certainly registers the value in a program like Dementia LIVE. The program utilizes modern Virtual Reality (VR) headsets and an interactive software program. Participants are able to experience an immersive simulation that results in a deeper understanding of what it’s like to live with sensory change, cognitive impairment and other symptoms brought on by dementia. Both a public outreach effort and a professional development tool, Dementia LIVE by AGE-u-cate is available for group sessions. The program is accompanied by a six-hour online coaching session, Foundation of Dementia Care Training Course and optional CEUs.

Developed by AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Dementia LIVE is one of several unique programs established as public health awareness efforts. Other programs include:

• Compassionate Touch
• REVEAL Aging
• FlashBACK
• Opening Minds Through Art
• The Conference Experience