With the aged care industry facing a significant skills shortage, the time-consuming process of on-the-job training is proving increasingly problematic. The impact on scheduling staff, allocating time for training, not to mention those required on the floor, is fast becoming a major resourcing issue for management, and further destabilising an already struggling sector.

To combat the problem, the Western Service Health District has partnered with Start Beyond and South West TAFE to develop an innovative virtual reality training solution designed to to provide a better understanding of how to work with dementia patients.

Start Beyond CEO Angus Stevens says the powerful and relatable learning experience is centred around soft skills, empathy and communication.

“Given the lack of time and the associated resourcing challenges it is understandable why many aged care workers receive limited on the floor training and have a lack of confidence and real world experience when starting their role,” Ms Stevens says.

“(The collaborators) identified the need for current staff as well as students seeking to enter the industry to have a greater understanding and confidence in implementing soft skills, particularly around communication with the residents and patients receiving care,” he explains. 

Throughout the health and aged care industry there is a lack of easily accessible immersive
dementia care training that can be integrated into their workforce’s routine; to build and empower their staff with critical thinking skills that they can confidently deploy when faced with distressed dementia customers.”

Slice of life interactivity

Describes as a suite of authentic 'slice of life', the interactive VR scenarios were produced, combining WDHS’ in-house experience with dementia patients, SWTAFE’s knowledge of building course curriculums and Start Beyond’s expertise in shooting and producing live-action 360° reality experiences.

“Shot in first person, the camera represents the VR user’s perspective. By having the dementia resident talk directly to the camera, it creates the sensation of the resident talking directly to the user,” Mr Stevens says.

Confronted by the resident’s behaviour, the user is offered a range of options.

“What they choose determines the resident’s reaction and will either escalate or de-escate the situation thereby illustrating to the user first-hand the impact of positive versus poor communication skills.”

Mr Stevens says the VR training solution is for current aged care workers looking to upskill and Cert 3 & Cert 4 students seeking to enter the industry.

Why use VR?

“Training through VR is a really effective way to learn how to manage dementia patients without the real life pressures,” Mr Stevens says.
“Picking up the skills in a virtual setting first to then apply to real life situations has proven a far more thorough and consistent learning process.”

Mr Stevens says the beauty of VR is that whilst it is not 'real' it is vastly more immersive and  than traditional learning formats, including text, e-learning, or 2D video.

“VR training simulations and scenario-based immersive experiences build core skills faster, create speed to proficiency and generate knowledge,” he says.

“PWC's 2022 study into VR effectiveness document that learners’ confidence to use skills learnt in VR to implement their training in the real world increased 275 per cent.

“Additionally, they also reported that VR training is four times faster than in person/on the floor processes. People who learn through AR and VR training simulations feel connected to the experience and so are excited and motivated to use their newly acquired knowledge.”

Unique outcomes for students

According to Mr Stevens, the benefits of the program were as extensive as they were unique.

“The immersive short training program can be offered at point of care and overcomes the challenges associated with deploying ‘on-the-floor’ training.

“The program provides a timely, cost-effective and safe space for individuals to improve their soft skills without the emotional risk of real life, offering a stepping stone to build confidence, improve long-term skill development and increase the quality of care.”

Mr Stevens says the project addresses the lack of confidence experienced by many dementia care workers when responding to their client’s distress.

“It also allows other workers such as hospitality, cleaners and security who have contact with residents with dementia to be better equipped in understanding the needs of the resident.”

It can be easily deployed in other areas of aged care training too, he says, because it builds critical thinking and can be used with minimal impact to their usual workload.

The downside of "on-the-floor" training?

Training ‘on the floor’ or in real life can often be a high pressure and emotionally demanding environment especially for those new to the role.

“This can be emotionally overwhelming for those new to training and can result in students missing out on the learning side of things whilst they climatise,” says Mr Stevens.
“Additionally, the structure of many Cert 3 and 4 aged care and dementia related courses are online led, immediately followed by the remaining portion of their training through placements at aged care facilities.”

It is not uncommon, then, for students to have never encountered dementia, or palliative care patients prior to the industry placements and some find this experience both confronting and complex.

“By having a VR component to their training prior to the industry placement, they’re able to better understand the type of work, and the type of scenarios they will experience, thereby reducing the emotional impact when they begin their placement portion of their training.”   

Mr Stevens says the collaborative aspect of the training brought the added benefit of improved staff morale, and increased staff engagement and career motivation.

“Aged care is an absolutely essential pillar of our society, but currently facing funding, staff and skill shortages, it's more important than ever to think of ways we can innovate the sector and transform the way we train/support aged care staff to be more effective and efficient,” Mr Stevens says.