How Immersive Experiences Are Building Empathy for Dementia in Chennai
- Eddie Avil
- Aug 13
- 2 min read
A new art installation at the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (Scarf) in Chennai is turning the traditional concept of art on its head—not to soothe, but to actively disorient, distress, and disrupt visitors. Developed to mimic the mental and sensory challenges faced by people with dementia, the exhibit is designed by research fellows Sudharshini B and Shreenila Venkatesan as part of the Demcares dementia awareness programme.
Titled "Into Their Shoes," the installation, set for display at Alliance Francaise, is filled with intentionally confusing elements: direction signs that mislead, induction stoves misplaced in bathrooms, wall clocks with repeating or random numbers, oversized shoes, undersized shirts, and a constantly ringing phone. Lights flash, and voices bombard visitors with shouts of "Why can't you understand?"—placing participants in the perpetually disoriented world of a dementia patient.
"This is how a person with dementia feels every day, every moment," explains Sudharshini. The installation aims to foster empathy by simulating the cognitive and sensory overload that disrupts ordinary activities such as dressing or bathing. Screening tools like the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, along with patient and caregiver interviews, informed its creation. Clocks in the exhibit mirror those drawn by patients—skewed, out-of-order, or covered in meaningless lines.
A striking feature is a 3D brain model that immerses the viewer in a barrage of unintelligible sounds, offering a visceral sense of a brain in chaos.
India’s first immersive project of this kind, it echoes similar empathy-building tools gaining traction globally. In the UK, virtual dementia tours are offered at homes and hospitals. Indian startups are also innovating: Kerala’s Sparshmind provides VR-based rehabilitation, using virtual re-creations of familiar spaces to help patients relearn daily routines or stimulate memory through reminiscence therapy. Hyderabad’s ImaginateLab develops VR/AR versions of airports to prepare elderly travelers and reduce their anxiety, supported by mental health professionals.
As these immersive technologies expand, they are helping not just patients, but also informing and transforming how families and caregivers understand and support those living with dementia
This is such a powerful initiative. Experiencing even a fraction of what dementia patients go through can really change how we care for and support them. Respect to the team behind this project.