Care workers from a Norfolk housing provider have been on a 'virtual dementia tour' to get a better understanding of residents with the condition.

Housing provider Flagship has been working in partnership with Second Wind Dreams and Training 2 Care (UK) Ltd to allow care staff to experience dementia first hand.

The virtual dementia tour uses technology and special clothing to recreate the sensory impairment experienced by people with dementia. When participants have completed the training, they then observe other people taking part.

Flagship has Extra Care Schemes that have specialist areas that cater for people with early stage dementia.

Linda Milliken, services manager, said: 'The training gave a real insight into the challenges people with dementia face every day as well as an understanding of what it must feel like. Most people think dementia is just about memory loss, but as we experienced, it affects all the senses – hearing, sight and even mobility. To have to cope with just one of these on top of memory loss must be incredibly hard. If this virtual experience helps us to help residents improve their lives in some way, it has to have been well worthwhile.'