THE loved ones of people living with dementia have been given an eye opening tour around the lesser-known effects of disease.

The UK’s only mobile Virtual Dementia Tour Bus was brought to Tesco Abergele’s car park for three days by the Dementia Friendly Abergele steering group.

Aiming to bring the full weight of the physical side of the incurable disease to the fore, the bus offered 108 people the opportunity to experience first-hand that dementia – predicted to become the biggest killer of the 21st century – is far more debilitating than mere memory loss.

Journal reporter Duncan Rieder was among those who took the eight-and-half-minute tour as part of a group of four, which also included steering group members Cllr Alan Hunter, Cllr Charlie McCoubrey and Llandudno restaurateur Julie Milo, whose mother was diagnosed with vascular dementia last year.

Prior to be taken on to the bus, the experience to come is shrouded in mystery. This, as is explained in the subsequent debrief, is an essential component of the tour, which was designed by psychological consultant PK Beville in Atlanta in the USA 20 years ago.

Speaking before her trip on the bus, Mrs Milo said: “I’m looking forward to it, but I don’t really know what to expect. While I’m hoping to gain a deeper insight into what my mother might be experiencing, I know nothing about what’s coming up which is quite unnerving.”

Without revealing too much of what follows, each person is invited to put on wear uniquely-shaped gloves, deeply-uncomfortable footwear as well as sensory depriving goggles and a headset, before being ushered into a mock-up of a house condensed into a space the size of a small bedroom.

What becomes immediately apparent is how confusing performing even the most simple task becomes, and as a consequence, the overwhelming feelings of vulnerability. Even being able to hear a simple instruction feels like a small victory.

Many of the people responded to this deeply unsettling set of circumstances by ‘freezing’, pacing nervously and even swearing or shouting.

But a post-tour debrief truly takes the experience from being quite harrowing and overwhelming to being truly enlightening.

Members of each of the three groups taking the tour on the afternoon session were given a thorough breakdown on the purpose of everything they had experienced – in much friendlier tones from tour guide John – and how it corresponded to everyday life with dementia.

The tone of room oscillated repeatedly between amusement and sombre, but ultimately the experience clearly resonated with everyone present and engendered a new level of empathy for the physical symptoms of the disease.

Mrs Milo said afterwards: “What an amazing experience! The tour around the bus was so frightening. When I first went in, I was very panicky and I felt like I couldn’t bring myself to do it. But afterwards with the debrief, even though I was still very emotional. I just felt glad that I’m getting to see what I’m in for with my mother and I just feel very grateful. Now I will be able to try and sympathise with my mother rather than getting impatient.”

Lucie Williams, community relations and recruitment manager with Home Instead Senior Care, said :"I’m absolutely delighted that we were able to raise the funds needed for the bus. Knowing it has helped so many people has made it all worthwhile."

Following the success of this first experiment – all places were booked within 24 hours – the bus is set to return to the town next year for a further three days following a donation of the £3,420 cost by Tesco Abergele.

Dementia Friends Abergele is also currently seeking additional funding to bring the bus to other communities in North Wales.

Ms Williams added: "It was very disappointing to have to turn people down, the 108 spaces were filled quickly.

"We are excited to announce that the customers of Tesco Abergele have voted for our group using the bags for life blue tokens, and this now means we have enough money to bring the bus back again in the spring. The whole experience has simply added to our drive and passion to make a difference to people living with Dementia in our community."