Seniors and their caregivers can journey into dementia and play bingo to get healthy

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have dementia?

Even if you are a caregiver for someone with cognitive impairment, its mysteries can seem vast.

Ageways Nonprofit Senior Services is offering a new program that simulates the experience of living with dementia.

Dementia Live immerses participants — caregivers and noncaregivers — into life with dementia, deepening their understanding of what it’s like to live with cognitive impairment and sensory overload.

Sessions will be held in senior centers, community centers, places of worship and anywhere that requests it.

The way it works: Participants are given headphones, thick gloves and goggles that limit peripheral vision. They are given tasks to do in an experience room such as buttoning up a shirt, counting change, feeding a dog, sorting playing cards — all while ambient sounds like a loud TV or dishes being washed come through their headphones. With limited senses, it isn’t easy.

After the experience room, participants have a discussion — the “empowerment phase” — where they talk about the experience.

“We talk about the challenges and that’s really powerful,” says Jeannine Roach, manager of health promotion at AgeWays.

Roach says participants say they found it hard to remember what they were told to do when the session trainer handed them their headphones and other gear. They reported finding it difficult to use their fingers to button a button or to use a calculator.

But the biggest takeaway is the empathy the experience evokes. Roach says Dementia Live helps caregivers remove some of the obstacles that may be disruptive to their loved one, such as a loud television or computer. They may begin to label drawers to show a loved one where the utensils are kept. They might work at developing more patience.

Nurse Taylor Clark, program specialist of wellness and caregiver services at AgeWays and a trainer for Dementia Live, says the program is a “game changer.”

“We can’t truly experience dementia until we actually live it. This is the closest we can get to living it,” she says. “It’s all about sensitivity. How can we better understand what they might be experiencing so we can be more aware and sensitive to the fact that things that naturally occur are difficult to handle?”

The program runs about an hour or longer if there is a large group. Only four people are in the experience room at one time.

Bingocize

AgeWays is happy to offer a free new wellness program that brings healthy competition into getting healthy.

Bingocize combines bingo with exercise and information about nutrition and fall prevention. It is designed for everyone and is free (though donations are appreciated).

“It’s a good outlet for older adults who need social engagement and want to learn something about staying healthy,” Roach said.

The way it works: Participants cross off three winning bingo numbers on their cards, then answer three questions, then do three exercises for 30 seconds each. Over the course of the 10-week class, they learn 200 exercises.

“It’s neat because maybe this person never exercised, and they leave learning what they can do with minimal equipment. By the time the hour is up, you hopefully have someone who wins. We offer prizes. Overall, it’s going to be really fun,” Roach says.

Bingocize has been shown to improve overall health, along with the fun. Studies of older adults before and after participation in the program found significant improvements in physical strength, a fear of falling, social isolation, physical activity and avoidance behavior.

The first session is at the Costick Activities Center in Farmington Hills and meets from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Aug. 14. Other Bingocize classes are offered beginning July 7 in Madison Heights and Aug. 4 in Sterling Heights.

For more information, go to ageways.org or call 833-262-2200.

This content is provided by AgeWays Nonprofit Senior Services, a nonprofit that serves older adults and family caregivers in Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair and Washtenaw counties. We provide services, programs and resources that are designed to help seniors age safely and independently. Call us at 800-852-7795 to get connected.