Virtual dementia experience wins international award

Alzheimer’s Australia Vic’s Virtual Dementia Experience, based at Victoria’s Perc Walkley Dementia Learning Centre, has been awarded the international 2014 Asia Pacific Information Communications and Technology Alliance (APICTA) Award for Education E-Learning in Jakarta.

Posted December 2nd 2014

by DPS

<p>The Virtual Dementia Experience, developed by Alzheimer's Australia Victoria, earns international recognition.</p> — The Virtual Dementia Experience, developed by Alzheimer's Australia Victoria, earns international recognition.

Described as the 'world’s first' use of serious games technology aiming to transform dementia care education to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia, the awards ceremony honours organisations and individuals in the Asia Pacific which are at the cutting edge of technology innovation.

After winning the Australian ICT Innovation iAward for Education E-Learning in August this year, Alzheimer’s Australia Vic went on to represent Australia at the Indonesian awards ceremony against finalists from Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand.

The Virtual Dementia Experience was assessed by judges from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Pakistan and Vietnam.

The APICTA recognises the achievements of ICT professionals across the Asia Pacific region.

“As the peak body in Victoria we are very honoured to have received the international APICTA Education E-Learning Category that demonstrates our commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for our community,” says Maree McCabe, Alzheimer’s Australia Vic chief executive.

The Virtual Dementia Experience takes the participant through a multi-sensory simulation using light, sound, colour and visual content while incorporating ‘serious games’ technology to create a virtual reality experience – aged and healthcare workers are taken in to the world of dementia.

The experience includes doughnut shaped mood lighting, a massive 10 metre by two metre wall that can have a seamless image projected across its width and breadth, an interactive touch screen and gesture sensor technology.

“The intention is to simulate the experience of what it is like to have dementia. This leads to a change in attitude, which changes behaviour and practice resulting in better care for people living with dementia,” Ms McCabe says.

“Alzheimer’s Australia Vic is dedicated to bringing plans, innovations and best practices into reality and the example of our Victorian team’s Virtual Dementia Experience has succeeded in putting dementia care education at the forefront of Victorian healthcare.

“I wish to acknowledge the extraordinary work of the Alzheimer’s Australia Vic team, Dr Tanya Petrovich, manager business development and the game developer team from Melbourne’s Opaque Multimedia, James Bonner, Liam McGuire and Norman Wang.”

Since the Virtual Dementia Experience was launched at the opening of the Perc Walkley Dementia Learning Centre in October last year, more than 1,000 people have been exposed to the intensely moving experience.

In March this year, the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs acknowledged the ground breaking work of the Virtual Dementia Experience and recommended that all states develop installations similar to that at the Perc Walkley Dementia Learning Centre, Parkville.

“I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to take part in the virtual experience. I had an eight hour shift in the facility the next day and I was able to use the experience several times, in different ways, throughout the day. It was such an incredible feeling,” one course participant says.

International attention has seen Alzheimer’s Australia Vic and Opaque Multimedia invited to multiple conferences to share about and demonstrate the Virtual Dementia Experience to ageing, dementia and game developer experts, including: