Team Members Participate in Immersive Dementia Experience Workshops
MMC recently hosted Dementia Training sessions for team members, led by Melody Karick, Dementia Educator and Consultant with Forge Works. This immersive experience allowed participants to reflect on their own emotions, perspectives, and caregiving approaches—enhancing both empathy and understanding when caring for individuals with memory impairment.
Melody began with a brief introduction to Dementia, followed by her personal story—one that shaped her work and her passion. Her journey started in 2000, when she became a care partner for her father, who lived with her family for eight years. She openly reflected on how limited her understanding of the disease was at the time and shared raw, honest examples of mistakes she made, despite her deep love and best intentions. Her vulnerability set the tone for the rest of the workshop and reminded us that learning, growth, and compassion must go hand-in-hand.
Immersive Experience #1
Attendees then participated in two similar experiences, with one key difference between them—though that difference would not be revealed until later. Team members were given a moment to glance around the room, noticing a few sensory stations set up. Tool kits were handed out containing goggles, headphones, spiked shoe inserts, and oversized gloves. After putting them on, team members were left to navigate the room and attempt various tasks with little to no direction. The goggles restricted vision to a dime-sized window, the headphones delivered loud and unpredictable noise, the gloves made it nearly impossible to grasp items, and the inserts made every step uncomfortable. For approximately 10 minutes, the training participants moved through that environment, experiencing the sensory and cognitive overwhelm that many individuals with Dementia face daily.
Immersive Experience #2
After a short break, team members were prepared for the second round. They wore the same equipment, but this time the experience was markedly different. Melody connected with each of them individually, introducing a specific task and guiding them through it with encouragement and support. Her approach varied for each person, shaped by their emotional state, understanding, and ability to participate. Through her presence and reassurance, many were able to accomplish tasks that felt impossible during the first round.
Reflections & New Approach Techniques
Following the exercises, staff had the opportunity to reflect on their emotions, reactions, and insights. Many shared how the experience shifted their perspective and deepened their understanding of what life may feel like for someone living with Dementia. Participants discussed the profound impact a care partner can have—from the way care teams communicate, to how they offer support, to the environment they create. The workshop highlighted how a simple touch, a positive approach, and thoughtful adaptations can transform a person’s experience. It also humbled many of the participants, offering a glimpse into the loneliness, confusion, and fear that memory impairments can create. Yet with Melody’s guidance, our team members were reminded of the privilege they have as caregivers: the ability to provide comfort, safety, and a sense of security through their words, actions, and presence.
The remainder of the presentation focused on a series of approach techniques grounded in understanding which areas of the brain are impacted and how to maximize the abilities that remain. Many of these techniques are derived from the teachings of Teepa Snow, Melody’s mentor and a renowned Occupational Therapist and Dementia Care Specialist. Participants explored concepts such as music memory and practiced the Hand-under-Hand technique.
Training Funded by the Dean Worth Dementia Education Fund
This training was made possible through the Dean Worth Dementia Education Fund, a MMC endowment fund established in 2017 by MMC resident Emily Klenin in honor of her husband Professor Dean Stoddard Worth after he passed away with dementia. The fund celebrates his lifelong dedication to learning, compassion, and excellence, and supports educational opportunities that deepen our understanding of dementia and the neuroscience of the brain. Professor Worth was a Distinguished Professor (Emeritus) of Slavic Languages and Literatures at UCLA, Chair of the International Committee of Slavists, a Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and a lifelong member of the Centre d’Études Slaves at the University of Paris (Sorbonne).
Team Members Reactions to the Training
- “Patience and approach matters. Have the courage to try something new.”
- “I learned how important it is to come along side and be patient with someone with dementia. It cemented something I already knew.”
- “It’s scary for someone living with these diseases; empathy and patience go a long way! Anyone can be in the same position, life changes fast. Be kind!”
- “I learned to be more aware of my actions and words when working with residents with dementia.”
- “It helped me understand the disease process a little more and what residents experience.”
- “I realized how isolating it can feel.”
- “Be more sensitive and patient. An eye opener, very well done!”
- “I gained more understanding, more awareness, and can look for ways to help make their lives better.”