NORTH MANCHESTER – Peabody Retirement Center will be putting on its first dementia tour.
While this is the first dementia tour, the retirement center has done several educational programs regarding the disease in the past.
The tour is to help provide caregivers and those with loved ones with dementia with information of what that person goes through, as well as give people methods of helping their loved ones deal with the disease better.
“(Some people) don’t truly realize what their loved ones go through,” Tracy Irwin, director of healthcare marketing and admissions, said.
The tour itself will be a little different from past programs the retirement center has put on.
“It’s a hands-on experience,” she said.
The person taking the tour will put on such things as goggles and gloves to help them with the experience, Irwin said. The goggles are supposed to help simulate what a dementia patient sees as they tend to lose their sense of color.
Headphones also will be provided so people can’t hear directions their loved ones are giving them, Irwin said. There will be background noises in the headphones, something dementia patients find distracting.
The tour’s estimated time is approximately 30 minutes, Irwin said. However, it can vary from person to person as Irwin said it can be emotional for some people.
During the tour, a facilitator will be in the room with the person and be taking notes. The facilitator will let the person know how they did when done.
Irwin said one of her colleagues went through the tour and found out she’s a hummer when things get overwhelming.
Tours will be held at the Peabody Retirement Center campus, 400 W. Seventh St., North Manchester, from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. There is no cost for the tour and it is open to the public.
The only requirement for the tour is that people call and schedule to take the tour as there are restrictions on the time.
If someone can’t make the times scheduled, Irwin said that person can call her and schedule a time that does work. If the tour is successful, it might be continued in the future.
People interested in taking the tour can call Irwin at 260-982-0808.
Anyone interested in learning more can visit https://peabodyrc.org/events/what-its-like-to-live-with-dementia/.
