Other Titles
Harnessing AI-Driven Technology to Empower Dementia Caregivers Across Home, Clinic, and Community
Other Titles
Symposium Presentation
Abstract
The development of dementia care competence among healthcare students remains limited by the scarcity of experiential training opportunities for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms [1]. Traditional curricula often fail to provide sufficient, high-fidelity practice for the complex, emotionally charged interactions characteristic of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) care [2].
To address this gap, we developed an AI-powered, Gamified Extended Reality (XR) Dementia Behavioral Training App. This immersive platform simulates authentic caregiving encounters with persons living with ADRD. It employs an AI-generated animated patient agent and integrates adaptive difficulty scaling within clinically relevant, scenario-based modules to mirror the complexity of dementia care. By immersing learners in controlled, emotionally evocative virtual environments, the application cultivates critical competencies, including clinical decision-making and the use of non-pharmacological interventions. Development and evaluation were guided by methodological rigor, employing a mixed-methods framework.
The pedagogical design incorporates a dual-support system, offering learners concurrent access to a curated digital resource library and real-time guidance from a virtual clinical preceptor. To promote self-regulation and mitigate simulation-induced stress, the platform integrates a learner-facing biofeedback metric (“stress meter”) and automated prompts encouraging regulated breaks when elevated stress levels are detected.
A preliminary validation study with seven participants assessed proof-of-concept. Results demonstrated strong usability, high engagement, and self-reported improvements in confidence related to dementia care competencies. These findings highlight the potential of immersive, technology-enhanced simulation to strengthen dementia care education. They also inform the design of a larger-scale study to evaluate scalability, measurable competence outcomes, and strategies for sustainable curricular integration.
This innovation contributes to nursing science by addressing a critical deficit in pre-licensure education. It carries significant implications for patient outcomes, nursing practice, and educational policy by providing a scalable method to equip future healthcare professionals with empathy-driven, person-centered competencies essential for high-quality dementia care.
Notes
Presenter notes available in attached slide deck.
References:
[1] Muralidhar, M., Delray, S., Cooper, C., Zabihi, S., Banerjee, S., Giebel, C., Dening, K. H., Birks, Y., Kenten, C., & Walpert, M. (2025). Dementia Education and Training for the Multidisciplinary Student Healthcare Workforce: A Systematic Review. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 40(7), e70119. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.70119
[2] Adewuyi, M., Morales, K., & Lindsey, A. (2022). Impact of experiential dementia care learning on knowledge, skills and attitudes of nursing students: A systematic literature review. Nurse education in practice, 62, 103351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103351
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Public and Community Health, Competence
Recommended Citation
Akintomide, Modupe; Li, Joy; Kingsby, Toi-Ann; and Williamson, Dandre, "AI-Powered Gamified Extended Reality Training for Dementia Care Competence in Healthcare Students" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 9.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/9
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-19
AI-Powered Gamified Extended Reality Training for Dementia Care Competence in Healthcare Students
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The development of dementia care competence among healthcare students remains limited by the scarcity of experiential training opportunities for managing behavioral and psychological symptoms [1]. Traditional curricula often fail to provide sufficient, high-fidelity practice for the complex, emotionally charged interactions characteristic of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) care [2].
To address this gap, we developed an AI-powered, Gamified Extended Reality (XR) Dementia Behavioral Training App. This immersive platform simulates authentic caregiving encounters with persons living with ADRD. It employs an AI-generated animated patient agent and integrates adaptive difficulty scaling within clinically relevant, scenario-based modules to mirror the complexity of dementia care. By immersing learners in controlled, emotionally evocative virtual environments, the application cultivates critical competencies, including clinical decision-making and the use of non-pharmacological interventions. Development and evaluation were guided by methodological rigor, employing a mixed-methods framework.
The pedagogical design incorporates a dual-support system, offering learners concurrent access to a curated digital resource library and real-time guidance from a virtual clinical preceptor. To promote self-regulation and mitigate simulation-induced stress, the platform integrates a learner-facing biofeedback metric (“stress meter”) and automated prompts encouraging regulated breaks when elevated stress levels are detected.
A preliminary validation study with seven participants assessed proof-of-concept. Results demonstrated strong usability, high engagement, and self-reported improvements in confidence related to dementia care competencies. These findings highlight the potential of immersive, technology-enhanced simulation to strengthen dementia care education. They also inform the design of a larger-scale study to evaluate scalability, measurable competence outcomes, and strategies for sustainable curricular integration.
This innovation contributes to nursing science by addressing a critical deficit in pre-licensure education. It carries significant implications for patient outcomes, nursing practice, and educational policy by providing a scalable method to equip future healthcare professionals with empathy-driven, person-centered competencies essential for high-quality dementia care.
Description
Overall Symposium Summary: This symposium presents preliminary findings on AI-driven interventions to enhance Alzheimer’s and dementia caregiving across home, clinical, and community contexts. Projects include: a voice assistant app guiding informal caregivers in managing behavioral symptoms; a gamified VR training tool cultivating dementia care competencies in healthcare students; and a data-driven app matching caregivers with tailored financial resources. These innovations aim to empower caregivers and improve outcomes.
Note: The attached slide deck is a combined symposium presentation containing the slides of all featured symposium speakers.
To locate the other presentations in this symposium, search the repository by the Symposium Title shown in the Other Title field of this item record.