Taking ‘A walk through dementia’: exploring care home practitioners’ experiences of using a virtual reality tool to support dementia awareness

Abstract Emerging research has outlined the possibility for virtual reality (VR) experiences, which situate users into perspective of someone living with dementia, to enhance dementia awareness. Currently, there is limited VR that engages care home practitioners. It imperative this population high levels education given their requirements provide and support residents, many whom will be condition. This paper reports on an exploratory qualitative study designed elicit experiences practitioners who engaged application: ‘A walk through dementia’. Twenty practitioners, across four homes in United Kingdom, watched scenarios provided views experience potential tool developed a wider training programme Data were collected via focus group discussions. Following inductive thematic analysis, we constructed three themes. These suggested participants perceived application offered them convincing immersive was insightful evocative , ‘next-level’ dementia-awareness enabled reflect practices. Although findings highlight important challenges developers wishing use within care, they suggest may engaging experiential learning can staff deeper cognitive emotional awareness dementia. Further work, drawing these preliminary insights, required ensure incorporated positively contribute ‘dementia-friendly communities’ agenda.