Discover Paris, revisit the Gaspésie or even parachute, patients in some palliative and long-term care establishments can continue to live and dream thanks to virtual reality headsets
Despite the many beneficial effects put forward by the stakeholders interviewed by The newspaperfew establishments use virtual reality in the province.
At least two palliative care homes in Quebec and around thirty CHSLDs in Chaudière-Appalaches have adopted this fantastic universe. Several others plan to purchase helmets, but time and resources are lacking.
For those who already use this technology, the experience is conclusive.
The tool allows patients to break isolation, to value themselves and to forget the disease, for a moment.
The Saint-Raphaël palliative care home in Montreal was one of the first to embark on virtual reality.
“For our customers, it is often dreams that they have not been able to realize […] Being able to visit Paris, London or the Egyptian pyramids can be a spectacular experience,” says Véronique Després, director of multidisciplinary services there.
The feet in water
The Maison Desjardins for palliative care in Rivière-du-Loup has also dared to use virtual reality.
Pascale Fillion, occupational therapist in this establishment, has tons of examples to demonstrate how this technology does great good to its clientele.
“If I take the example of Ms. Lavoie, her son went to Riviera Maya. As she has never been there, she was able to see the beaches, the tourist site, the landscape, she had the impression of having her feet in the water, ”she says.
The professional mentions that the medical condition of the patients can prove to be a brake on the choice of virtual activities. For example, skydiving can cause nausea or dizziness.
Called to democratize
In the past, virtual reality — which became available to the general public in the late 1990s — has mainly aroused the interest of video game enthusiasts.
In the future, it might become a must for people at the end of life.
“In the beginning, big industry wasn’t for older people or sick people. Today, virtual reality is becoming more and more democratized, and I think there is a very interesting future,” says Jean-François Malouin, director of the non-profit organization specializing in the virtual world, Super Sublime.
He was also the first to embark on a pilot project with the Saint-Raphaël palliative care home.
Examples of requested activities
- Return to his workplace in Manic 5
- Take a tour of Île d’Orléans
- Walk the streets of Paris
- Skydiving for the first time
- Go to the Riviera Maya beach
