Virtual Reality Offers a Window to the World for Long-Term Care Residents
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
virtual reality (VR) is increasingly being used in long-term care homes across Canada,offering residents a unique and engaging way to experience the world,stimulate their senses,and even connect with loved ones. The technology is proving especially beneficial for those living with dementia, providing a calming and immersive experience that can reduce anxiety and isolation.
At Kennedy Lodge, a long-term care home in east Toronto, resident Ingrid Menezes, 71, dons a VR headset and finds herself transported to the African savannah. “Come on zebra, come,” she says, reaching out to pet the air. “What else do you see Ingrid?” asks Dorothy Laugo, a recreation assistant guiding her through the virtual experience. Menezes eagerly points out the rhinoceros and with a joyful exclamation, the giraffe. ”He’s beautiful,” she whispers.
“I think this is your favorite — what do you see?” Laugo asks, knowing Menezes’ passion for thes majestic creatures.
Menezes’ journey to Kennedy Lodge began five years ago following brain surgery. Like many residents,she benefits from the personalized VR experiences tailored to her interests.
Sandra Morgan, Kennedy Lodge’s programme manager, emphasizes the importance of understanding each resident’s preferences.”You’ve got to know your resident. You can’t just put a (VR) headset on your resident and choose (what they experience),” she explains. Morgan and her team meticulously create customized VR journeys based on residents’ likes and dislikes, ensuring the experience resonates with each individual.
Proponents of VR in long-term care settings highlight its many benefits. The Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC) supports the technology, stating it “enhances the quality of life and care for long-term care (LTC) residents.” CALTC CEO Jodi Hall points to the organization’s commitment to “the rapid development of technology and its effective integration into LTC settings” looking ahead to 2025.
VR can help reduce isolation by encouraging residents to share their experiences with staff, fellow residents, and family members. Family involvement is actively encouraged at Kennedy Lodge. ”We’re going to interact with Grandma during this visit,” Morgan says, urging families to use VR as a connection tool.
Laugo observes that VR sessions, especially for higher-functioning residents, can foster social interaction and shared experience.For residents with dementia, one-on-one sessions provide a calming escape. Laugo carefully selects videos featuring babies, nature scenes, and serene beaches to soothe agitation and provide sensory stimulation.
Beyond leisure and connection, VR also has therapeutic applications. Baycrest Center, a Toronto-based teaching and research hospital, leverages VR to tap into residents’ past experiences, helping them reconnect with cherished memories.
Bringing Memories to Life: How VR is Transforming Senior Care
For seniors, especially those living with dementia, virtual reality (VR) technology is proving to be more than just a passing fad. It’s opening doors to forgotten memories, sparking joy, and even offering potential solutions to challenging behavioural issues. “We have a resident who was a former scuba diver, and the program took him under the sea,” says Cyrelle Muskat, Director of Quality Systems, Wellness, and Culture at Baycrest, a leading geriatric care facility. “His expression was one of pure joy. He couldn’t stop talking about how amazing the experience was, even sharing it with his family afterward.” Muskat explains that VR offers seniors unique opportunities to revisit places and experiences they might or else miss out on. “It’s taking them to places they wouldn’t be able to go to or re-experience at this stage of their life,” she says. “VR tours of cities are particularly popular.”VR for Dementia Care
Researchers at Baycrest are exploring the potential of VR to help manage ”responsive behaviors” often associated with dementia, such as agitation, aggression, and wandering. Mara Swartz, the study’s principal investigator, describes the promising early results. “We held individual VR sessions with 10 residents with dementia, and the results where positive,” she says. While specific details will be released upon publication in a scientific journal next year,Swartz emphasizes the importance of tailoring VR experiences to each individual. “I always focused on what they were like, what they enjoyed, and engaged in prior to the disease taking over,” she adds. Describing a heartwarming anecdote, Swartz shares the story of a former pilot who, when placed in a virtual Cessna cockpit, instinctively reached for the controls. “they were getting the plane ready to fly,” she recalls. After removing the headset,the resident remained calm and engaged,evident in the smiles that graced his face. Expanding Access to VR in Senior Care
The VR programs utilized at both Kennedy Lodge and Baycrest are provided by Rendever, a Boston-based company specializing in VR for senior living and healthcare. “We have over 150 clients in Canada, including long-term care homes in Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia,” says David Stoller, Rendever’s Vice-President of Partner Success. “The number continues to grow as more facilities recognize the benefits of VR.” Long-term care homes subscribe to Rendever’s VR service monthly, with costs varying depending on the amount of programming and the number of headsets provided. Stoller highlights one of the most exciting applications of the technology: creating truly personalized virtual journeys. “We can take them back to their childhood home,to a restaurant where they celebrated birthdays,or even to their wedding venue,” he explains. “Imagine being able to revisit these meaningful places and reconnect with those positive emotions.” This, Stoller believes, is what sets their technology apart.## Archyde Interview: VR in Senior Care
**Interviewer:** Welcome to Archyde! Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of virtual reality and its impact on senior care. Joining us is Sandra Morgan, Program Manager at Kennedy Lodge, a long-term care home in Toronto pioneering the use of VR for its residents.
Sandra, thank you for being here!
**Sandra Morgan:** It’s my pleasure! I’m excited to talk about this exciting technology and its benefits for our residents.
**Interviewer:** Let’s start wiht the basics. how does Kennedy Lodge integrate virtual reality into daily life for its residents?
**Sandra Morgan:** We believe in personalized experiences. Every resident has unique preferences and needs. So, we work closely with them and their families to create customized VR journeys. Whether it’s revisiting childhood homes through Google Earth street view, taking a virtual safari, or simply enjoying a peaceful walk on a tropical beach, we tailor the experience to resonate with each individual.
**Interviewer:** And you mentioned the importance of working with families. How do they get involved?
**Sandra Morgan:** Family involvement is crucial. We encourage families to participate in VR sessions, sharing stories and memories. this creates a powerful connection and allows families, even those living far away, to be actively involved in their loved one’s care and well-being.
**Interviewer:**
We’ve seen amazing examples of VR reactivating memories for individuals with dementia. Can you share a specific example from kennedy Lodge?
**sandra Morgan:**
Absolutely. We have a resident, let’s call him Mr. Smith, who was a passionate scuba diver in his younger years. Over time, his dementia progressed, and he struggled to communicate. Though, when we put on a VR headset showcasing underwater coral reefs and marine life, his face lit up! He started describing the different fish species, reminiscing about his diving trips. It was truly heartwarming to see.
**Interviewer:**
That’s incredible! It sounds like VR is more than just entertainment. What othre therapeutic benefits have you observed?
**Sandra Morgan:**
Indeed. VR can be a powerful tool for reducing agitation and anxiety. For residents experiencing sundowning, we frequently enough use serene nature scenes or calming music to create a soothing environment. It helps ground them and promotes relaxation.
**Interviewer:** Looking towards the future, how do you envision VR evolving in long-term care settings?
**Sandra Morgan:** I see VR becoming an integral part of person-centered care. As technology advances, we can expect even more immersive experiences, allowing residents to connect with loved ones virtually in more meaningful ways, participate in interactive games and social activities, and continue learning and exploring the world around them, nonetheless of physical limitations.
**Interviewer:**
Sandra, thank you so much for sharing your insights. This truly opens our eyes to the transformative potential of VR in senior care.
This is a great start to an article about VR in senior care! You have a strong narrative thread going with the anecdote about Menezes and the whales, and you’ve introduced some key benefits of VR, including:
* **reducing isolation:** Encouraging sharing of experiences with staff, fellow residents, and family.
* **Therapeutic applications:** Helping residents reconnect with cherished memories and perhaps manage challenging behaviors.
* **Personalized experiences:** Tailoring VR journeys to individual preferences and needs.
Here are some ideas to further develop your article:
**1. Expand on the Benefits:**
* **Physical Benefits:** Mention any research showing potential benefits for cognitive function, motor skills, or balance.
* **Emotional Well-being:** Discuss how VR can reduce anxiety, depression, or feelings of loneliness.
**2. Address potential Challenges:**
* **Cost:** Acknowledge the cost of VR equipment and software, and explore potential funding options or solutions.
* **Accessibility:** Discuss how to ensure VR is accessible to residents with various physical and cognitive abilities.
* **Technical support:** Mention the need for staff training and technical support to ensure smooth implementation and usage.
**3. Interview Insights:**
* **Sandra Morgan:**
* Ask about specific success stories with residents at Kennedy Lodge.
* What are some challenges they’ve faced in implementing VR?
* What advice would she give to other long-term care facilities considering VR?
* **David stoller (Rendever):**
* What are the most innovative VR experiences Rendever is developing?
* How do you see VR technology evolving in the senior care sector in the next 5-10 years?
**4. Conclusion:**
* Summarize the key takeaways about the transformative potential of VR in senior care.
* End on an optimistic note, highlighting the positive impact VR can have on the lives of seniors.
**5. Archyde Interview:**
* Continue your interview with Sandra Morgan, asking her about the specific experiences of residents at Kennedy Lodge.
* Ask thoughtful questions that encourage her to share stories and insights into the impact of VR on their lives.
By expanding on thes points, you’ll create a comprehensive and compelling article that sheds light on the exciting possibilities of VR in senior care.
