Bluebird Care Stevenage & North Herts brought together local organisations, families, and care professionals for a powerful hands-on training experience designed to deepen understanding of dementia. The Virtual Dementia Tour took place on Wednesday 29th October at Bluebird Care’s office on Walsworth Road, Hitchin.
The event was hosted by Bluebird Care Stevenage & North Herts as part of their ongoing commitment to raising awareness and improving dementia care across the community. This time, the company extended the opportunity beyond their own Care Experts — inviting families of customers and local organisations that also support people living with dementia to take part.
Among those attending were representatives from The Garden House Hospice in Letchworth and CVS North Herts & Stevenage, a charity that supports local voluntary organisations, charities, and community groups through training and resources.
The Virtual Dementia Tour is an award-winning, immersive training experience that uses specialist equipment and sensory simulation to recreate the physical and mental challenges faced by people living with dementia. Participants wear altered-vision goggles, gloves, and headphones that distort senses while being asked to complete everyday tasks — helping them gain real empathy and insight into how dementia affects daily life.
Following the experience, participants took part in a debrief and training session to discuss what they had learned and explore practical ways to apply that understanding in their roles.
Admiral Nurse Lucy Cosgrove from The Garden House Hospice said the experience was a powerful reminder of the vulnerability faced by those living with dementia:
“It really does put you in the shoes of someone with dementia. It was overwhelming to have your sight impaired and your hearing confused by constant noise. When I was led to sit down and fed, I felt completely disoriented — it made me appreciate how frightening that loss of control can feel.”
Bluebird Care Stevenage & North Herts Care Expert Sam described how the training will impact her approach to care:
“Even simple tasks became incredibly difficult. I’ll take away the importance of patience — slowing down, explaining things clearly, and giving customers the time they need to feel calm and in control.”
Maureen Raine, whose aunt is cared for by Bluebird Care Stevenage & North Herts, also took part to better understand her loved one’s condition.
“The noise was relentless, and it made me realise how disorienting everyday sounds can be for someone with dementia. It helped me understand why my aunt sometimes finds normal situations overwhelming.”
Director Robert Treschi, who organised the event, said the training was an important step in helping the wider community provide more empathetic care:
“At Bluebird Care, we passionately believe in improving the lives of people living with dementia and their families and that enhanced understanding shouldn’t stop with professional carers. By inviting local organisations and families to take part, we’re helping to build a more compassionate, informed community. Ongoing, hands-on training like this is vital — it helps us all to see the world from our customers’ perspective. We’re incredibly grateful to The Garden House Hospice and CVS North Herts & Stevenage for joining us and supporting the event.”
