Neale Court Care Home hosts the Dementia Bus

Held at Neale Court Care home in North Hykeham, the event invited staff members, friends and relatives of residents to take part in a free immersive experience designed to offer insight into what living with dementia can feel like.

Participants were guided through the Virtual Dementia Tour, which uses sensory-altering equipment to replicate some of the physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges faced by people living with dementia. The experience aims to help those supporting individuals with dementia to better understand the condition and adapt their approach to care with greater empathy and compassion.

Participants were guided in groups of three onto the Virtual Dementia Tour bus and taken through a series of sensory challenges designed to replicate some of the difficulties faced by people living with dementia.

Each person placed spiked inserts into their shoes to mimic neurological sensations that can affect balance and movement. They were then given specialist glasses with very limited vision, reflecting the visual-perceptual challenges dementia can cause, such as mistaking shadows or patterns for objects.

Inside the bus, headphones were used to simulate sensory overload, recreating how background noise can feel confusing and overwhelming for someone living with dementia. Participants also wore multiple pairs of gloves, restricting movement and sensation, making simple tasks such as finding items or getting dressed extremely difficult.

Many described the experience as disorientating, with everyday movements feeling unfamiliar and unsettling, offering a powerful insight into the challenges faced by those living with dementia. The tour provided relatives and care staff with a valuable opportunity to reflect on how everyday tasks can become confusing or overwhelming for someone living with dementia, encouraging more thoughtful communication and person-centred care practices

Kirstie, the daughter of a resident at the Home, shared her experience, saying, “It was really intriguing stepping onto the dementia bus. I could feel my heart rate increase with anticipation because I didn’t quite know what to expect. Once inside, there were so many different things going on at once, it felt like my brain was working overtime trying to process everything. At times, I felt quite overstimulated, and it really opened my eyes to what my mum might be experiencing day to day. It’s made me more aware of how important it is not to give too many tasks at once, but to break things down into simpler, more manageable steps. It’s such a valuable learning tool, not just for families like mine, but for staff as well.”

Staff members who took part commented with the following after their training, “Taking part in the dementia bus was really thought-provoking. It gave me a much deeper insight into dementia and the challenges our residents may be experiencing every day.” “Although I’ve completed dementia training before, I’ve never experienced anything like this. It was incredibly interesting and so helpful in bringing everything to life.” “It made me feel quite lost at times, and I became really aware of all the different noises around me. It’s definitely made me think more about my own noise levels and how that might impact residents living with dementia.”

Everyone who attended the event said they found the experience to have a profound impact, helping to deepen their understanding and reinforce the importance of compassionate, person-centred dementia care.

Neale Court Care Home would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended the Virtual Dementia Tour. The participation showed a shared commitment to understanding dementia and improving the lives of those living with it, helping to create a more compassionate and supportive environment for their residents and their families. For more information about life at Neale Court Care Home, please contact Kayleigh Moss on 01522 682 201 or email careenquiries@countrycourtcare.com.

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