Introduction
On 11 April 2024, the GP Vecchi Association of Modena, established with the aim of helping and supporting relatives of people with dementia, hosted ‘Journey through Dementia’, a free experiential training course as part of the Erasmus plus SupportCare project. The course offered an in-depth look at dementia and involved participants in a virtual reality experience on the topic. The session was attended by around 30 people, including family carers and volunteers. While the participants followed the course, their loved ones with dementia simultaneously participated in a cognitive stimulation intervention in an adjacent room.
Event structure and activities
The course started with an icebreaker activity designed to foster connection and sharing between participants. Chairs were arranged in a circle and participants introduced themselves by holding a ball of wool. Then, holding one end of the thread, the ball was thrown to another participant who did the same, thus creating a web of threads. This activity symbolised the interconnectedness of the group, emphasising the common experience of being caregivers.
Subsequently, the SupportCare project was presented, showing the objectives and an overview of the results achieved. This was followed by an interactive lesson on dementia, which provided valuable information and insights. The session ended with a virtual reality video, followed by a facilitated group discussion and reflection on the content.
Participants feedback and insights
The workshop received positive feedback from participants, who found it useful and interesting. Especially appreciated key aspects were:
- the opportunity to immerse oneself in the perspective of people with dementia and learn strategies on how to interact with them.
- talking about the role of the carer and learning about initiatives to support them.
- having the opportunity to share their own experience and compare notes among participants.
Furthermore, participants appreciated that information was shared through engaging activities and in a competent manner. However, some participants, particularly those who had been attending the association for some time, stated that they already had a great deal of knowledge about dementia and showed particular interest in the project where self-care practices were explored, proposed and tested. This feedback made the need for workshops that focus on caring for the wellbeing of the carer even more apparent.