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Fairfax County is offering a new virtual training series designed to help residents understand and respond to the challenges facing aging and terminally ill loved ones.
Developed by Embodied Labs, “Exploring the Dimensions of Aging through Virtual Reality” places participants in realistic scenarios involving dementia, hospice care and caregiver stress.
In the Beatriz Lab, participants experience the progression of Alzheimer’s disease through the perspective of a woman whose communication, thinking and emotional well-being are changing. The session also teaches ways to help her feel secure and supported while maintaining her quality of life.
The Dima Lab focuses on a woman developing visual disturbances and motor-function changes as Lewy body dementia progresses. Participants learn approaches intended to promote independence and preserve dignity.
Another session, the Clay Lab, follows a man coping with a terminal illness and entering hospice care. It helps caregivers understand what they may encounter during a loved one’s final days.
Additional sessions cover caregiver burnout, intervention and de-escalation, and trauma-informed care.
The 75-minute virtual sessions are held through Microsoft Teams. Schedules and registration are available on Fairfax County’s website.