Be EPIC - person-centered communication training

We empower caregivers in dementia care to enhance their communication skills, build work competence, and foster personal growth.

Be EPIC-VR - Building workforce capacity. The image is split: the righ side shows a woman's head and shoulder from the side. She is wearing a light VR headset, focused and engaged, likely participating in a training. The woman has dark hair and wears a dark blue top. The left side includes a white Be EPIC logo on a dard blue background and a text promting 'Building workforce capacity in dementia care.'. On the right os a woman from side perspective wearing a VR headset, focused and engaged.

The Challenge

Dementia care is an increasingly in-demand sector in Canada. Frontline workers, especially personal support workers, are essential to healthcare teams but are often overlooked in training initiatives. Targeted skill development is crucial for those providing direct care given low recruitment and retention, high level of stress and burnout among staff, combined with the growing demands of dementia care and early hospital discharges, targeted skill development is crucial for those providing direct care.

The Solution: Be EPICTM

Be EPICTM is an evidence-based program that addresses training gaps in person-centered communication among frontline workers in dementia care. It is based on over 20 years of research on how to use communication to improve quality of care. Be EPICTM emphasizes emotion-based skills, integrates an intersectional cultural humility lens, and builds self-efficacy through simulation-based learning with expert feedback. The program promotes knowledge-to-practice helping caregivers use communication to support individuals living with dementia during activities of daily living, meaningful activties, and when addressing addressing responsive behaviours and delirium.

Caregivers learn to: (flip the cards to learn more!)

E

Environment
- Assess for clues

P

Person-centered communication
- Use verbal & nonverbal strategies

I

I matter too
- Focus on relationship building

C

Client's abilities, preferences, life history
- Incorporate during care

Be EPIC-VRTM

Since 2021, we have developed and implemented Be EPIC-VRTM - a virtual reality adaptation of the original in-person program, which featured live actors for simulation practice. Be EPIC-VRTM replaces the in-person version to support broader scaling while aligning with the growing shift toward online learning methods seen in healthcare education. 

It is the first intervention to use conversational artificial intelligence in immersive VR, enabling real-time conversations with avatars representing persons living with dementia from diverse backgrounds to support communication training.

Click here to read more about Be EPIC-VRTM and download our PDF.

Watch the video to learn more about Be EPIC-VRTM

Our Impact

16

sites representing long-term care, home care, and adult care programs across Ontario implemented Be EPIC-VRTM.

82

staff completed Be EPIC-VRTM training, including 74 direct care providers and 8 managers.

 96%

of healthcare professionals who completed Be EPIC-VRTM say they would recommend it to others.

Watch the video to learn more about the impact of Be EPIC-VRTM



Voices of Our Learners

This image showcases a testimonial, framed within a teal speech bubble: 'It gave me a sense of awareness that we’re not just here for a job, we’re also here for them, to help them.' Below the quote, the words 'Personal Support Worker' are displayed. This image showcases a testimonial, framed within a teal speech bubble: '[My resident] does not refuse as much anymore. I [...] give him enough time to absorb what I’m trying to say. So, there’s actually a difference. It is actually effective.'Below the quote, the words 'Personal Support Worker' are displayed.
This image showcase a testimonial, framed withing a teal speech bubble: I'm 40 years in the field...there's nothing that I've had that was more successful in making me understand who I am as a caregiver.' Below the quote, the words 'Long-term care manager' are displayed. This image showcases a testimonial, framed within a teal speech bubble: 'You are able to practice what you're learning as you're going.' Below the quote, the words 'Personal Support Worker' are displayed.
This image showcases a testimonial, framed within a teal speech bubble: 'We still have a high number of resident-to-staff incidents...So, for the resident's quality of life and for their safety and the staff safety, I think Be EPIC is so important...to prevent a situation altogether.' Below the quote, the words 'Long-term care manager' are displayed. This image showcase a testimonial, framed withing a teal speech bubble: 'A lot of our staff are, English is not their first language ... you are giving them cues. You are teaching them cadence, volume, those pieces that are not taught in regular class or schools.' Below the quote, the words 'Long-term care manager' are displayed.

Publications

The CARE Lab has conducted extensive research to (1) gather evidence that supports the development of Be EPICTM and (2) assess the effectiveness and feasibility of Be EPICTM as a training tool for frontline care providers.

To view our publications related to Be EPICTM, please click here.