THE arrival of a mobile exhibition is promising a new insight into the experience of people living with dementia.

Dementia Friendly Abergele is in the process of raising funds to bring the UK’s only ‘mobile virtual dementia tour bus’ – one of only three such vehicles in the world – to the town for three days.

Virtual reality technology inside the bus attempts to recreate the experience of dementia.

Lucie Williams, community relations manager at Home Instead Senior Care – a multinational network of franchises specialising in non-medical in-home care for the elderly – said: “At present there is no set date for the bus.

“Without the funds, we are unable to make the booking. Our aim is to bring the bus to Abergele in July or September.”

Over three days the bus can cater for 108 people at a cost of £3,420. Abergele Town Council has already pledged £1,000.

By 2021 it is estimated that more than 55,000 people in Wales will have dementia.

Ms Williams added:”Facts and figures are great but connecting to someone’s emotions is much more powerful.

“One participant, an 86-year-old woman whose husband had Alzheimer’s, started the session having very little patience. She kept telling her husband, “I’ve told you that” and “don’t do that”. After completing the session, she went over to her husband, said ‘I’m sorry and kissed him 15 times.”