MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (PRWEB) April 12, 2018
It’s estimated that 50 million people worldwide are living with dementia, the disease represents a progressive decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. In the United States, someone is diagnosed with dementia every three seconds. While there’s no cure or preventive treatment to help people avoid dementia, education is key for loved ones, caregivers and others who may interact with someone who is diagnosed with dementia. Because of the need for more understanding of this condition, Senior Helpers of Franklin will offer the Virtual Dementia Tour at 42 locations throughout Middle Tennessee to further demonstrate its commitment to those they serve. TwelveStone Health Partners is sponsoring the tour through a partnership with Senior Helpers.
Senior Helpers of Franklin is part of a national organization created to provide the highest level of professional care and service to seniors. Services range from basic monitoring to around the clock home care assistance, both in the family's home as well as in facilities when more care is needed.
The Virtual Dementia Tour, created by a nonprofit called Second Wind Dreams, is an innovative and scientifically proven training used to build a personal understanding of dementia. Qualified instructors guide participants as they try to perform common daily tasks while equipped with patented devices that alter their senses to mimic the way a person living with dementia sees the world. This allows caregivers to experience firsthand the physical and cognitive challenges facing those with dementia by “walking in their shoes.” This experience results in greater empathy and better person-centered care. Through Second Wind Dreams, the Virtual Dementia Tour has been made available in more than 20 countries to more than two million people. In fact, several medical schools use the Virtual Dementia Tour to show students what living with dementia can do to the senses.
Senior Helpers of Franklin licenses the Virtual Dementia Tour from Second Wind Dreams and is the first mobile tour sharing this experience across middle Tennessee.
“We are excited that TwelveStone sees the value in the Virtual Dementia Tour and wants to be a part of it,” said Debbie Miller, Founder of Senior Helpers of Franklin. “The tour itself is an eye-opener to those who participate and it creates compassion and empathy for those who live with dementia. It’s a pleasure to partner with another post-acute healthcare leader in the community to impact so many people in our area.”
“The Virtual Dementia Tour is such an innovative concept,” TwelveStone chief executive officer Shane Reeves says. “We are glad to join forces with Senior Helpers of Franklin to help caregivers understand dementia better. We increase the quality of care for dementia patients through a concierge medication management program through our MEDIpack service. With a chronic disease, it’s very common for a person to misuse their prescription medication accidentally. Perhaps they forget a dose or take too many doses. With MEDIpack, we can alleviate that concern because our medications are presorted and labeled clearly to ensure the patients have what they need, when they need it.”
The Virtual Dementia Tour begins on Tuesday, April 17, at NHC Place at the Trace in Bellevue. The tour is available from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is open to the public. Other dates and schedules can be found at http://www.12stonehealth.com.
ABOUT TWELVESTONE HEALTH PARTNERS
TwelveStone Health Partners incorporates the objective of glorifying God into its mission by delivering a higher level of service to partners and patients. As an organization, TwelveStone supports the transition from acute to post-acute care environments and the transition from sickness to health. This is the third evolution in the company’s history, beginning in 1980 when Richard Reeves and Ronald Powell created a single retail pharmacy location then called Reeves Powell Saveway Drug Store. In 1994 Shane Reeves and Rick Sain launched Reeves-Sain and over 20 years grew the organization to include seven companies. In 2015 Reeves Sain Drug Store, Inc., a retail pharmacy, and its specialty pharmacy, EntrustRx were sold to Fred’s, Inc. In 2016 Shane Reeves launched TwelveStone Health Partners with the objective of continuing to pursue the highest professional, business and community goals set forth by its founders.