A Generation of Empathy: How TCU Is Transforming Dementia Care Through Simulation and Certification

A Generation of Empathy: How TCU Is Transforming Dementia Care Through Simulation and Certification

Dementia isn’t a far-off concern for tomorrow’s healthcare professionals. It’s an urgent reality. One that demands not just knowledge—but empathy.

At Texas Christian University (TCU), that reality has sparked something remarkable. Since 2021, TCU’s Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences has integrated AGE-u-cate’s Dementia Live® program into its curriculum, reaching over 1,500 students across multiple disciplines. What began as a training tool has become a cornerstone of how TCU prepares its students—not just to treat, but to understand and advocate for people living with dementia.

“It remains a game changer,” says Dr. Michelle Kimzey, Associate Professor and Director of Rethinking Dementia at TCU. “Dementia Live is the ‘aha’ moment. It opens students’ eyes to what dementia feels like, and that insight drives them to learn more, do more, and be better.”

Simulating the Experience of Dementia

Dementia Live is a high-impact experiential training that simulates what it’s like to live with cognitive impairment. Students wear sensory-altering gear—blurred vision glasses, sound-distorting headphones, and thick gloves—while attempting to complete everyday tasks. The result? Seven minutes of confusion, frustration, disorientation, and, ultimately, revelation.

In a recent mixed-method study led by Dr. Kimzey and colleagues, students who participated in Dementia Live reported a statistically significant increase in empathy scores across five of six empathy categories, including distress, cognitive empathy, and empathic imagination . The experience gave students a language and lens to view dementia differently.

“I was overwhelmed. Everything was so hard to do,” shared one student. “I never realized how much patience it takes—not just from the person living with dementia, but from everyone around them.”

A Scalable Impact Across Disciplines

In the past year alone, 395 students participated in Dementia Live at TCU. That includes:

• 203 sophomore nursing students before clinicals

• 62 students in a dedicated dementia course (nursing, speech, OT/PT, social work, pre-med)

• 60 high schoolers attending TCU Nurse Camp

• 58 undergraduate social work students

• 12 graduate-level social work students

These students don’t just pass through the program—they carry the experience forward. For many, it shapes career aspirations and strengthens personal connections to loved ones living with dementia.

“After the simulation and every class, I’d call my mom to share what I’d learned,” said a student with a recently diagnosed grandmother. “It helped our whole family understand how to better support her.”

Dementia Live + CDP Certification = Lasting Change

TCU’s dementia training isn’t just classroom deep—it’s nationally recognized. Through its partnership with the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP), TCU offers students the opportunity to earn the Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) credential. This collaboration ensures that graduates aren’t just trained—they’re certified according to national standards that healthcare employers trust. In fact, NCCDP highlighted TCU’s approach as a model for how universities can lead the way in dementia education. 

“The two go hand-in-hand,” says Kimzey. “Dementia Live grabs their attention, and CDP content answers their questions. It helps students go deeper and connect dots in ways traditional lectures can’t.”

As a Certified Dementia Live Coach and CDP educator, Kimzey offers both trainings through Rethinking Dementia, the university’s dedicated center for dementia education and research. Through donor support and university funding, TCU covers the cost of student certifications and renewals.

That investment is paying off. Students consistently cite the CDP credential as a standout in job interviews and a key part of their personal mission to provide better care. Some even go on to train their peers or family members in dementia-friendly practices.

Leading with Vision and Advocacy

Kimzey’s leadership has extended TCU’s impact well beyond campus. The university now offers the CDP seminar to the wider Fort Worth community twice a year. Students engage with memory care communities and serve as ambassadors through “Dementia Friendly TCU,” a student-led group that promotes awareness and inclusion.

And there’s more to come. TCU is preparing to launch a new Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, expanding its focus to include Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related conditions. Dementia Live and CDP training will remain essential components of this broader vision.

“We’re not just teaching students to pass exams,” Kimzey explains. “We’re preparing them to show up—professionally and personally—for one of the most vulnerable populations in healthcare.”

The AGE-u-cate Difference

For AGE-u-cate, TCU is a shining example of what’s possible when institutions fully embrace experiential learning and person-centered dementia education.

Dementia Live is more than a training—it’s a catalyst. It helps schools like TCU nurture empathy, improve care quality, and develop future leaders who don’t just know about dementia—they feel its impact, and they’re ready to respond with skill, compassion, and purpose.

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