Dementia Live® Empathy Training Strengthens Nursing Education at Penn State
At the Penn State College of Nursing, empathy is being taught through experience.
In partnership with AGE-u-cate Training Institute, the College’s Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE) has expanded its integration of Dementia Live®, an immersive simulation experience that enables participants to better understand life with dementia. The initiative is part of CGNE’s ongoing efforts to prepare nursing students with the skills—and the perspective—needed to provide high-quality, person-centered care for older adults.
Penn State has been a Dementia Live® program partner since 2018, initially introducing the program at one campus and gradually expanding its use to additional campus locations over the following years. In 2024, over 30 Penn State College of Nursing faculty and staff across six campuses completed the Dementia Live® experience. Of those, six became certified Dementia Live® Coaches, empowered to facilitate the simulation for students and community members. This means hundreds of future nurses will gain firsthand insight into the physical and cognitive challenges that many of their future patients will face—before ever stepping into a clinical setting.
This experiential approach to learning goes beyond textbooks. Participants wear specialized gear that simulates visual, auditory, and tactile impairments, while being asked to complete simple tasks. The result is disorientation, frustration, and a glimpse into the world of someone living with cognitive decline. But more importantly, it’s a catalyst for compassion.
“One of the best ways to develop empathy is to walk in someone else’s shoes,” said a CGNE faculty member. “Dementia Live® lets our students do exactly that—helping them connect with the human side of their clinical training.”
The integration of Dementia Live® aligns with CGNE’s broader mission to lead in geriatric nursing education, research, and practice. In addition to the training initiative, CGNE has supported pilot projects, community-based research, and seminars that are transforming how older adult care is taught and delivered across Pennsylvania and beyond.
10 Years of Walking in Their Shoes
AGEucate is proud to celebrate 10 years of Dementia Live® by highlighting partners like Penn State, who are using experiential training to shape the future of elder care. With over a decade of impact behind us and a growing network of passionate educators, we’re just getting started.
📥 Want to explore how Dementia Live® can enrich your organization or classroom? Learn more here.