Integrating virtual reality into care centers for the elderly, helping residents escape the four walls of their rooms and marking items on the wish list, has been described as a “changer”.
With COVID isolating residents for the past two years, a trial program led by the QUT Design Laboratory has been tested in three care centers for the elderly.
The university is now expanding the project in Victoria and has developed a set of online tools to help senior care centers who want to try it out.
Jean Stoneman used his glasses to visit ancient places where he used to travel. (ABC News: Elizabeth Cramsie)
Ninety-six-year-old Jane Stoneman, who lives in the dementia community at Arcare’s Pimpama Center for the Elderly, has used the technology to travel back to London and Germany, places she used to visit when she was a 20-year-old girl. -old.
It reminded him of a time when he traveled with three friends around Europe in an old black taxi.
“It’s a 1937 Austin … this is the car … and it was a legal taxi, but they called us a lot,” he laughed.
“It’s very easy to do. Germany was a very nice place to go, they have a lot of nice shops, really lovely.”
His virtual journey reminded him once that he was traveling in a black taxi through Europe.
Arcare residence manager Vicki Cain said the technology was a “game changer”.
“We really didn’t expect to see the results we have for people with dementia … that has really been the game changer for us,” he said.
“Connecting with the outside world, remembering certain things like going on a bus trip to London, for English people or people who have traveled.
“It simply came to our notice then [feeling of being anxious] and takes them to a nice place. “
The centers adopted the technology mainly due to the isolation of COVID. (Supplied)
The project was the result of a philanthropy grant, with a particular focus on helping residents escape isolation as a result of the pandemic.
“Actually, right now, virtual reality … people don’t use it that often, so it’s great to have an older person say ‘I’ve done something you haven’t done,'” said Yvonne Miller of QUT Design Lab. .
“If we can help them fulfill their last wishes and enjoy some last moments, then it’s a great privilege.”
Yvonne Miller helped lead the project, which was the result of a philanthropy grant. (ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic)
Ms Cain said her particular center was always looking for innovative ways to help residents, but that she really adopted the technology because of COVID.
“People felt isolated, we weren’t allowed entertainers to come in, families couldn’t get the residents out,” he said.
Residents can also use technology to play. (Supplied)
He said he also helped residents with physical strength and mobility.
“We had a woman who was very close to the end of life and, thanks to the use of virtual reality, she has now got back on her feet, walking on her back,” he said.
“We also had another resident, a similar situation, and he loves to do coral reef and canoeing or kayaking down Antarctica and now he’s back on his feet and enjoying life again.”
Vicki Cain says she also helped with mobility. (ABC News: Elizabeth Cramsie)
Project coordinator Leonie Sanderson hoped more centers could introduce the technology using the newly developed toolkit and said it could be tailored to the individual needs of residents.
“Sometimes they do it as a group, sometimes they do it one by one, sometimes they do it as a family group, which is really great,” he said.
“They can throw it on TV so everyone can see what someone is doing in virtual reality, so it’s a really social experience.
Ms. Sanderson hopes more senior care centers will give virtual reality a chance. (ABC News: Melanie Vujkovic)
“You feel like you’re in a balloon over the Maasai Mara, you feel like you’re in a balloon over the Swiss Alps … and there was an old gentleman trying to get in the basket and look over the edge.
“It just gave people, who had been almost locked up or isolated from family and friends, the feeling of being able to enjoy the world, and maybe at the age of 94 of doing something they had never done before.”
Posted 2 hours, 2 hours ago, Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 12:11 AM, updated 5 minutes ago, 5 minutes ago, Thursday, June 2, 2022 at 2:50 AM