Dementia can be a scary process for someone who’s going through it. 

The Alzheimer’s Association describes symptoms that include memory loss, loss of communication, loss of judgment, loss of vision and generally a loss of most things necessary to lead a quality life. 

But in addition to those who suffer from dementia, the people who live with or care for those dealing with the symptoms can also suffer. 

Robin Woods, a nurse at Pearl River County Hospital, explained that caregivers can feel impatient trying—and failing—to communicate with someone who needs help. 

Woods was among the nurses Thursday who went through a Virtual Dementia Tour at the county hospital and said the process of virtually experiencing the symptoms will help her do her job better. 

The tour includes headphones that blasted low levels of noise—both ambient noise and garbled conversation, gloves that simulated arthritis, glasses that obscured vision and shoe inserts that made walking harder. After Woods was geared up, and another nurse, Deven Fejka, were asked to do a series of everyday tasks, including fold laundry, set a table and pour a glass of water. 

Woods and Fejka struggled with the tasks and with communication. At one point, Woods began putting dishes back that Fejka had just set out on a table. 

Woods said the experience gave her, “maybe a little more patience, to give them a little more time to do things.”

Jo Lynn Davis, another nurse at the hospital who helped set up and run the tour, said Woods learned exactly the right lesson. 

“If you don’t understand why they’re behaving that way,” she said of dementia patients, “then you may lose your patience with them.”

Davis said the tour, which was offered over several days this week, was open to the public, although it is especially useful to first responders, medical personnel and family of dementia sufferers. 

Melora Jackson a dementia training specialist with the Alzheimer’s Division of the Department of Mental Health, said the training has shown verifiable results. 

“It’s an evidence based tool that has been shown to improve the care that patients receive,” she said. 

Jackson has been giving the virtual tours since 2007, and over the years, she’s given it to hundreds of people at least. 

“Last year we did right around 500 people,” she said.