Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
August 19, 2025
Balfour Trains First Responders in Revolutionary Dementia Care Techniques
TLDR
- Balfour Cherrywood's dementia training enhances first responder skills, giving communities a safety advantage and positioning Kisco as a leader in specialized care partnerships.
- The training used the Virtual Dementia Tour to simulate cognitive changes, providing hands-on methods for approaching and communicating with dementia patients in crisis scenarios.
- This initiative builds empathy and understanding, ensuring vulnerable individuals receive compassionate care and making communities safer and more supportive for those with dementia.
- First responders experienced immersive dementia simulations, gaining practical insights through laughter and meaningful conversations about supporting people on their dementia journey.
Impact - Why it Matters
This initiative directly impacts community safety and quality of life for dementia patients and their families. When first responders understand how to properly engage with individuals experiencing dementia, emergency responses become more effective and less traumatic. The training reduces the risk of misunderstandings during crises, potentially preventing injuries and improving outcomes. For the growing population affected by dementia—projected to reach nearly 13 million Americans by 2050—this type of specialized training ensures that emergency services can provide appropriate, compassionate care rather than standard protocols that might escalate situations. Community-based partnerships like this represent a progressive approach to public health that benefits vulnerable residents while enhancing overall emergency response capabilities.
Summary
Balfour Cherrywood Village Memory Care, a Kisco Collection community, recently partnered with Balfour Louisville and Balfour Longmont to host a comprehensive dementia training series for the Louisville Fire and EMS Department. The innovative program was designed to equip first responders with practical skills to more effectively engage with individuals living with dementia during emergency situations. Key participants included Louisville firefighter-paramedic Elizabeth Chase and EMS Chief Shawn Stark, who both praised the program's effectiveness in enhancing their teams' understanding and empathy for this vulnerable population.
The training featured an immersive Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT), a scientifically developed method that simulates the sensory and cognitive changes associated with dementia, allowing first responders to experience the world from a dementia patient's perspective. Brenda Gurung, national director of memory care services at Kisco Senior Living, led the initiative, emphasizing the importance of building strong community partnerships to support vulnerable adults. The hands-on, conversational approach covered real-life scenarios and proven communication methods, with participants reporting significant improvements in their ability to provide compassionate, effective care during crises.
This partnership represents a groundbreaking approach to community-based dementia care training, with Balfour Communities committed to hosting additional sessions in the future. The program is rooted in Kisco's trademarked Heirloom Memory Care approach, which emphasizes human-centered research, empathy, and connection. All Balfour associates are required to complete the same Virtual Dementia Tour training, ensuring consistent, high-quality care across their senior living communities and reinforcing their commitment to enhancing services through empathy and specialized tools.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by citybiz. Read the original source here, Balfour Trains First Responders in Revolutionary Dementia Care Techniques
