Following a successful pilot in March, a virtual reality (VR) training programme is being rolled out across Bridgend for care staff.
Developed by Googleminds, the training has been particularly useful for educating staff on how to handle situations concerning dysphagia – a condition that causes difficulty swallowing.
Image: VR training programme team.
The latest statistics show between 50-75% of residents in care homes suffer with the condition, with one in 10 over the age of 65 and one in four aged over 85 taking more than eight medications per day.
Since the training was first launched in March 2025, four industry experts have delivered it to teams in Bridgend and it replicated real-life swallow assessment consultations.
Jodie Miller, speech and language therapy associate practitioner at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, said her sessions saw ‘positive feedback and effective application of real-life scenarios.’
‘The VR simulation has enabled staff to apply what they learned in the sessions into real life and has been a key factor for driving engagement and practical understanding,’ Jodie continued.
Following the success of the programme among care home staff, it has now been offered to community carers. Jodie recently integrated the VR simulation into an Enhanced Community Care (ECC) training session were they learned tasks such as thickening drinks for patients and selecting appropriate food textures.
To give context into how useful the programme is, one staff member who took part in the initial trial said it created a ‘safe space’ for them.
‘When I put on the Googleminds headset, it gave me the opportunity to understand what we’ve been discussing [in training], joining the theory and practical and gave me more insight into how a resident might feel and what to observe.’
They also noted that this form of training is more engaging. They added: ‘Sitting in training for three to four hours just listening to somebody, everyone is getting bored of that, so this is really motivating.’
Going forward, Louise Baker, project lead at the Life Sciences Hub Wales, explained: ‘Word of Mouth is extending the programme, and now we’re delivering it to other supportive staff in the community. Offering this training more broadly isn’t just about meeting competency requirements, it’s about building awareness and capacity across the teams.’
Images: Life Sciences Hub Wales
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