Effectivity of a mixed-reality dementia simulator: does it enhance empathy and reduce burden in informal caregivers?

Informal caregivers of people with dementia are often overburdened by the care they provide. This burden can lead to diminished quality of life, worse health and stress for the informal caregiver and is the most important reason for institutionalization of their demented patient. The Into D'mentia simulator simulates what it is like to have dementia, probably heightening the empathy for the patient and more knowledge of dementia, by which the caregiving burden diminishes. The aim of this study is to research the effectivity of the simulator on various outcome variables, leading to a prediction model as to for whom, when and why the simulator is the most effective.

We expect that the use of the Into D'mentia simulator leads to better health and less caregiver burden for informal caregivers of people with dementia. Also, we expect that the people with dementia can live longer at home because of better, longer, care delivered by their informal caregivers.

1 month, 3 months, 12 months

The intervention is a mixed-reality dementia simulator training. The training consists of three parts: the simulation, a individual conversation after the simulation and a group discussion. In the simulator, participants experience what it is like to have dementia.