A Dementia Simulation Experience Is Coming to Dubuque

If you’ve ever known someone living with dementia, or loved someone who is (like me), you already know it’s about so much more than memory loss. Dementia changes how people see the world, how they communicate, how they behave, and how they connect with the environment and others around them. For families, friends, and caregivers, it can be confusing, heartbreaking, and exhausting; often all at the same time. That’s why an upcoming event in Dubuque is worth attending.

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On Tuesday, January 13th at 9:30 AM, Carnegie-Stout Public Library will host a Dementia Simulation Experience. This is a hands-on workshop designed to help people better understand what living with dementia is really like. Registration is required as space is limited, but the experience is something that will stick with you long after it’s done.

The workshop includes a short educational talk about what dementia is and how it affects the brain, followed by an interactive simulation. Participants will take turns stepping into the shoes of someone living with dementia and those of a caregiver or family member. The goal isn’t to overwhelm anyone; rather, it's a chance to build empathy, patience, and better communication skills in a safe, supportive environment with professional guidance.

This topic hits close to home for me. I’ve watched two grandparents live through dementia and Alzheimer’s. I remember my great-grandma Gray, once gentle and musical, slowly becoming confused and angry as the disease took hold. And my grandma Elaine; strong, hardworking, the kind of woman who took care of everyone, forgot who I was over 18 years ago. Even so, I still hug her, tell her I love her, and remind myself that knowing her still matters, even if she doesn’t know me.

That’s why events like this matter. Dementia doesn’t just affect one person: it affects entire families and communities. The more we understand it, the better we can show up for each other.

The Dementia Simulation Experience is provided by Stonehill Communities of Dubuque and will be led by Dementia Friends Champion Nancy Zachar Fett, LMSW, a social work professor at Loras College. Additional sessions are scheduled for February 3rd, March 3rd, and April 7th, all at 9:30 AM. If dementia has affected your life, or you want to be better prepared when it does, these are opportunities worth making time for.