Bedhampton care home invites local dentists to ‘step into the shoes’ of those with dementia
The organisation, which provides surgery-quality dental care in people’s homes, has been supporting the oral health of Portsdown View residents for over two years. Wanting to give something back to these wonderful dentists, the team arranged for some practical, hands-on training to support them in caring for patients living with dementia.
Delivered over two hours in the home’s cinema room, the session used experiential learning to simulate the sensory challenges of living with dementia. In a dark room filled with flashing lights and a barrage of sounds – including clattering cutlery, sirens, and overlapping voices – participants were asked to complete simple tasks like folding clothes or organising cards.
This served as a powerful reminder of how confusing and overwhelming everyday life can be for people living with dementia. Pippa Mafunga, General Manager at Portsdown View, comments on the day:
“We are incredibly proud to support our partners at At Home Dental by sharing our knowledge and expertise in dementia care. It’s been fantastic to see such enthusiasm from the team, and to know that this training will have a direct and positive impact on the care they provide to individuals living with dementia.”
The feedback from the dental team was overwhelmingly positive, with many noting they now feel better equipped to adapt their approach during treatments. One attendee from At Home Dental reflected on how strange and disorienting it must for people living with dementia to go through even minimally invasive dental treatment.
Another described the session as "eye-opening", and there was much eager discussion about how to integrate these new insights into their clinical practice moving forward:
“It was brilliant. Really informative. The trainer was easy to understand and delivered it at the right level, and the topics he touched on were varied and useful. I think everyone should do [the training] if they can.”
Pippa Mafunga again:
“Our Dementia Perspectives Training has already made a real difference to how our team approaches dementia, and we're delighted to be sharing those insights with the wider community. By helping frontline professionals of all stripes better understand dementia, we hope to inspire more compassionate, informed culture around the condition that puts individuals’ needs and perspectives at its centre”.
As the next step in this mission, Portsdown View will host a free public session of its ‘Dementia Perspectives Training’ next week (Tuesday 28th April). By once again recreating aspects of dementia, the session will offer powerful insight into the everyday challenges of living with the condition.
Designed to increase general awareness and empathy within the community, these sessions will also provide practical care skills for those supporting loved ones with dementia. The session is open to anyone wishing to attend.
Portsdown View is part of the Connaught Care Collection, an award-winning provider of luxury care homes. For more information, please contact [email protected], or call 02393 882154.