Dementia simulation training is a powerful way to build empathy and understanding for individuals living with cognitive decline. The Dementia Simulation Experience offers students a firsthand look at how dementia can affect daily life—both physically and mentally. Through a combination of wearable gear and guided activities, this simulation helps participants experience common symptoms of dementia, such as confusion, sensory impairment, and frustration. It’s a powerful tool for sparking meaningful discussions and preparing future caregivers to provide compassionate, person-centered care.
Understanding 5 Types of Dementia
Students can use this tool to experience common emotions and cognitive symptoms in their dementia simulation training, including confusion, fear, anxiety, frustration, and anger. Additionally, they’ll face visual and tactile impairments while simulating Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia.
Immersive Scenarios
Each type of dementia addressed includes two scenarios, one in a medical setting and one in a home care setting. Every scenario comes with its own five-minute audio recording that features sounds associated with the scenario and what the person with dementia might hear for added realism during dementia simulation training. Click the image below to hear a sample of an Alzheimer scenario’s audio.
Classroom-Friendly Format
With supplies for 20 to 30 students, the experience offers immersive group dementia simulation training. Ten students can role-play as dementia patients, while the others act as caregivers or family members, practicing empathy, patience, and communication skills in various scenarios.
Curriculum for Dementia Simulation Training
The Dementia Simulation Experience comes with a downloadable curriculum that introduces dementia and then dives into each of the five types students can simulate. It features five to ten teaching hours and comes with presentation slides, student activities, and assessment tools.
See the curriculum overview here.
Introduction to Dementia Poster
This dementia simulation training tool also comes with a printable poster you can hang in your classroom to introduce students to dementia. It defines dementia, shares facts about the condition, explains symptoms and different types, and addresses risk factors. The poster provides a helpful visual reference that reinforces learning and encourages thoughtful classroom conversations about cognitive health.
Additional Resources
- See why wearable simulations, like the Dementia Simulation Experience, are so effective in teaching empathy by watching this webinar
- Explore all our geriatrics training tools here
- Check out our free, downloadable posters to foster student learning and generate excitement