Second Wind Dreams® Introduces Community Edition of Virtual Dementia Tour®

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Jan 24, 2013, 10:37 ET

Newest Edition Helps Communities and Businesses Relate to 5.3 Million Americans with Alzheimer's Disease

ATLANTA, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With a 30 percent increase in the number of Americans with Alzheimer's expected by 2025, communities and businesses need access today to trainings that will help them understand and anticipate the challenges facing those with dementia. Second Wind Dreams®, the nonprofit changing the perception of aging, proudly introduces the next step in dementia care resources now designed exclusively for communities and businesses, The Virtual Dementia Tour® — Community Edition.

Scheduled for release in Atlanta on February 1, 2013 at a VDT® Consortium conducted by Second Wind Dreams®, VDT® — Community Edition builds on the popular VDT® — Group and VDT® — Family/Individual editions, which have been experienced by more than 500,000 people in 14 countries and are available in four languages.

"More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's and that number is expected to increase dramatically as Baby Boomers continue to age," said P.K. Beville, M.S., founder and CEO of Second Wind Dreams®, who originated the first edition of the VDT® almost 16 years ago. "When dementia strikes, it strikes the whole community, not just the individual."

"Society is no longer experiencing the effects of dementia only in senior care facilities and nursing homes, but now we are experiencing Alzheimer's, Picks, Myocardial Brain Infarction and alcohol related impairments, all a subset of dementia, in our workplaces, community based organizations, religious organizations, and even retail businesses," continued Beville. "In the U.S., a major crisis is going to be the shortage of geriatric specialists able to provide care for the growing number of people affected by this disease. It is vital that lay professionals receive dementia education so they know how to relate to people with Alzheimer's and can play an active role in helping America prepare for this healthcare crisis."

Since its introduction, over 1,400 VDT® kits have been sold through Second Wind Dreams®, which donates a significant portion of the proceeds to the organization's dreams for elders program. An estimated 22,000 experiential tours have been conducted by facilitators throughout the U.S. and in 14 countries. As of December 2012, more than 500,000 people have experienced a VDT®.

At the Consortium, a select group of Certified Trainers will go through rigorous instruction and training overseen by founder, P.K. Beville. The reputation of Second Wind Dreams®, owner of the rights to the VDT® series, is strong and the studies and research that support the rationale and exacting methodology of the VDT®, make the new Community Edition a sought after tool for anyone in a position of education to better understand the disease.

The Virtual Dementia Tour® series, including the new Community Edition, facilitator training and certified trainer certification programs, are available only through Second Wind Dreams®. For more information contact 678-624-0500 or visit www.secondwind.org and www.virtualdementiatour.org.

About Second Wind Dreams
Second Wind Dreams® is an international, nonprofit organization committed to changing the perception of aging through the fulfillment of dreams and educational programs that help caregivers understand the physical and mental challenges facing those with Dementia. Founded in 1997 by award-winning geriatric specialist P.K. Beville, M.S., the Atlanta-based organization is recognized as the first in the nation to focus on enhancing the quality of life for elders and changing society's perception of seniors by making dreams come true. Affiliated with more than 500 elder care communities in the United States and Canada, Second Wind Dreams® has made thousands of dreams come true for seniors living in the United States, Canada, India, Israel and other countries around the world. Its innovative educational programs, known as the Virtual Dementia Tour®, is a scientifically proven method of training designed to build sensitivity and awareness in individuals caring for those with Dementia. For more information about Second Wind Dreams® visit www.secondwind.org, www.facebook.com/SecondWindDreams or follow @SecondWindDream on Twitter.