Certified Coaches & Expert Care
Oaknoll Dementia Experience
The Dementia Live® program is a training created by the AGE-u-cate™ institute
The Oaknoll Dementia Experience is led by certified Dementia Live coaches who help others learn and gain perspective on how it feels to live with dementia and experience a deeper understanding of the totality of these brain diseases.
Our Dementia Live home at Oaknoll immerses participants into what life might be like living with cognitive impairment, sensory changes, and dementia. Specialized gear is utilized that simulates dementia specific changes in aging, including altered eyesight, hearing, and tactile sensation.
The home is set up as though someone has been living there for 40 years. While wearing the gear participants are asked to perform everyday tasks, like making the bed or finding items in their kitchen. This experience is a powerful and effective tool to help others be more empathetic and supportive of those living with dementia.
The Oaknoll Experience is intended to give participants a better understanding of the anxiety, isolation, frustration, and confusion a person living with dementia may feel. There is a valuable discussion following the experience to debrief with the participants and see what perspectives were gained and how it felt going through the simulation.
Learn More
If you would like to learn more, please contact:
Kam Meyer
Dementia Live Coach
Disclaimer: This experience is not dangerous, but the room is a challenging environment, and we must take all precautions to ensure everyone’s safety is maintained. The program is not appropriate for people who are living with dementia, those with poor balance, severely impaired mobility, hearing and vision, seizure disorders, anxiety, or dizziness. Any of the above issues causes a concern about the safety and appropriateness of a participant, a Coach may ask you to sit out of the experience and join in the rich discussion following the session. If you have specific questions, please note this when signing up, to see if this experience is for you.
Our Dedicated Team
Meet Our Certified Dementia Live® Coaches
Kam Meyer, CTRS
Dementia Live Coach
Kam has been working at Oaknoll since 2021. She began her career as Volunteer Coordinator and was promoted to the At Home With Oaknoll Manager in 2024. She also focuses her time on dementia education for staff, family, and the community. Kam is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, a Certified PAC Coach through Teepa Snow, and a trained Dementia Live Coach with Age-u-cate. Kam is a Dementia Friendly Iowa Champion and co-chair of the Johnson County Dementia Friendly Action Team, serving to make Iowa City and the surrounding area more accessible for people living with dementia. Kam’s passion is to build meaningful relationships with the older population by enhancing quality of life for those living with dementia. She believes that the top priority to building meaningful relationships is to have a better understanding of the disease and an increased level of empathy.
Lindsey Reed, CTRS
Dementia Live Coach
Lindsey has been working at Oaknoll since 2007 and has been a dementia educator for the past ten years throughout Oaknoll and the Iowa City community. Lindsey oversees all recreation and wellness programming in the Health Center and Assisted Living. Lindsey is a graduate of the Iowa City Community Leadership Program and the Leading Age Iowa Leadership Academy. Lindsey is a PAC (Positive Approach to Care) trainer through the Teepa Snow organization as well as a Dementia Friends Champion and co-chair of the Johnson County Dementia Friendly Action Team. Lindsey is passionate about serving those living with dementia and helping others learn how to successfully support and assist those living with dementia live the best life they can.