1. Virtual Dementia Tour offers chance to walk
in others shoes
Alicia Doyle
4:18 PM, Aug 23, 2015
4:27 PM, Aug 23, 2015
local news | conejo valley
The Virtual Dementia Tour will come to Agoura Hills on Thursday.
Contributed photo
Copyright 2015 Journal Media Group. All rights reserved.This material maynot be published,broadcast,rewritten,or
redistributed.
Copyright 2015 Journal Media Group. All rights reserved.This material maynot be published,broadcast,rewritten,or
redistributed.
The Virtual Dementia Tour will come to Agoura Hills on Thursday.
Contributed photo
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AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - Homewatch CareGivers of Thousand Oaks is providing the Virtual Dementia Tour,a free
20-minute educational experience thatallows participants to walk in the shoes ofa person with Alzheimer’s disease
or a related form of dementia.
The tour, created by Second Wind Dreams,promotes a heightened awareness ofdementia,helps improve the quality
of care for those living with dementia and helps maintain the dignityand independence oflocal seniors,said Kristine
Martin, who owns Homewatch CareGivers with her husband,Randy.
“This tour is recommended for any adult who is interested in better understanding the challenges ofdementia:
caregivers,family members,friends,students and elder-care professionals’ to help them move from sympathy to
empathy,” said Kristine Martin,of Thousand Oaks.

2. “The tour gives able people a chance to feel what those with failing senses endure on a daily basis bywearing
encumbrances thattemporarilyimpair them both physicallyand cognitively while attempting to perform everyday
tasks,” she said.
The Virtual Dementia Tour was created by R.K. Beville and was developed by the companyshe founded,Second
Wind Dreams,a Georgia-based charitydedicated to changing the perceptions ofaging.
Homewatch CareGivers is partnering with Second Winds Dreams to provide the Virtual Dementia Tour in a mobile
unit Thursdayfrom 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5217 Chesebro Road in Agoura Hills.
“Creating a mobile unittakes the guesswork outoffinding a location to provide the valuable training,” Kristine Martin
said.“I went through training with Second Wind Dreams and then realized this is a life-changing experience thatI
needed to bring to Thousand Oaks via a mobile unit.”
The Martins started their business in the home care industrybecause they had eight years of experience being
caregivers for their parents.
“We were initiallyunprepared and unsupported as we took on the caregiver role,” Kristine Martin said.“As our
parents’ situations became more complexand beyond the scope of our abilities,we felt lost and scared.The
caregivers we broughtinto our parents’ homes provided the familywith peace of mind and the comfort they gave to
the entire family was invaluable.We are passionate abouthelping others in this same way.”
Kristine Martin was inspired to launch the mobile unitby her mother,Betty.
“My mother has Alzheimer’s,and I walk the walk with her every day,” she said.“Randy and I are very passionate
abouteducating and bringing awareness to the communityaboutwhatresources are available for seni ors and
caregivers;the Virtual Dementia Tour is part of that goal.”
Homewatch CareGivers has been providing in-home care services for more than 35 years, Kristine Martin said.
“Homewatch CareGivers is committed to providing safe and compassionate in home care through an experienced,
caring staff,” she said.
“It is my hope that society, in general,will somedayperceive aging and its diseases in a more compassionate way,”
she added.“The Virtual Dementia Tour is a tool to help society develop a greater appreciation and acceptance of
those living with Alzheimer’s disease.”