Members of Greater Sudbury Police Service undergo the simulation at Alzheimer's Society Sudbury-Manitoulin; January 2016. Photo credit: @GSPS_News Twitter-feed
Members of Greater Sudbury Police Service undergo the simulation at
Alzheimer’s Society Sudbury-Manitoulin; January 2016.
Photo credit: @GSPS_News Twitter-feed

By Angela Gemmill

The Alzheimer’s Society of Sudbury-Manitoulin is helping caregivers and family members understand what their loved ones with dementia go through daily.

The agency set up a simulation at its Notre Dame Avenue location yesterday, called “Twelve Minutes In Alzheimer’s”.

Media Rep, Jessica Bertuzzi-Gallo, explains participants had to wear certain materials which obstructed their senses and then were told to perform a few simple tasks.

The experiment is meant to provide an empathetic view of the physical and mental challenges that come with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Bertuzzi-Gallo says it’s helpful to know what signs or symptoms to look for if you think you or a loved one has the degenerative brain disease.

Over 5,000 Sudbury residents have Alzheimer’s Disease or dementia, but many more go without an official diagnoses.