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Fairfax committee hears demonstration of Embodied Labs caregiver training pilot
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Summary
Fairfax County’s Older Adults Committee saw a demonstration of a web-based Embodied Labs pilot aimed at improving caregivers’ empathy and skills; presenters said the $23,100 license funded 193 participants through September 2024 and asked the Board to help broaden outreach as the pilot continues next year with grant support.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Older Adults Committee on [date not specified] heard a demonstration of a web-based immersive training pilot designed to help family and professional caregivers better understand and respond to dementia and related conditions.
Beth Ann Margueta, assistant program manager with the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, introduced the Exploring the Dimensions of Aging through Virtual Reality pilot, saying the project ties to the county’s SHAPE the Future of Aging plan and aims to increase support and guidance for caregivers. "This AAA led initiative ties into the SHAPE recommendation to increase support and guidance for family caregivers," Margueta said.
Kristin Martin of the Inova ElderLink team described how the county used American Rescue Plan Act funds to license Embodied Labs content and contract with ElderLink to pilot the program. Martin said the county purchased a licensing contract for $23,100 to provide access to the Embodied Labs Online Learning Center and future modules. The pilot focused on three facilitated labs — a DEMA Lab on Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia, an Elder Safety and Well-being Lab addressing caregiver burnout and de-escalation techniques, and a Frank Lab on social isolation — each offered as a 75-minute facilitated session at no cost to participants.
As part of the meeting the presenters led the committee through a shortened demonstration of the DEMA Lab. Facilitators warned the simulation can be sensitive: the module puts the user in the perspective of an older adult living with Lewy body dementia, illustrating visual hallucinations, motor challenges and how routine and self-regulation strategies can reduce anxiety. The presenters noted reflection questions are part of the facilitated debrief but were shortened for time.
Lauren Elsesser, director of Inova ElderLink, presented pilot outcomes. From April through September 2024, the pilot engaged 193 participants across facilitated sessions and demonstrations. Elsesser said trainees reported a 38% average increase in confidence managing challenging behaviors related to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia and a 31% increase in confidence at positively impacting quality of life for someone with late-stage Parkinson’s or LBD; she also said 100% of trainees were likely or very likely to recommend the program. Elsesser noted survey completion rates: 110 participants completed a pre-survey and 43 completed both pre- and post-assessments, representing a 39% overall response rate.
Committee members asked how the program is delivered and how residents sign up. Elsesser said Fairfax County elected to use Embodied Labs’ web-based immersive platform rather than distributing VR headsets to reduce disorientation and broaden accessibility; while the vendor offers headsets, the county’s pilot does not use them. She explained facilitated sessions require registration so staff can distribute access links; after attending a facilitated session, participants are offered the opportunity to create a personal Embodied Labs account to access self-paced modules on demand.
Presenters said the county has used local channels — the Golden Gazette, the Caregiver Newsletter and county text alerts — and partner organizations to publicize the pilot and welcomes additional outreach through senior centers, libraries, houses of worship and departmental newsletters.
"We seek the board's guidance regarding community members and groups who will benefit from this program and we request that you include this information in your newsletters so that we can further expand on our community outreach efforts," Elsesser told the committee.
Supervisors praised the demonstration and urged broader, earlier outreach so residents access the training before caregiving crises occur. Several supervisors volunteered to help promote the pilot through their offices and community networks. Presenters said the pilot will continue into the next program year using grant funding allocated for caregiver support.
The committee did not vote on any formal action; members closed the meeting after expressing support for expanding outreach and continuing the pilot.
