U.S. Seniors Fulfill Dreams, Fight Depression With Virtual Reality

A Miami-based nonprofit has deployed virtual reality (VR) to help seniors overcome isolation, loneliness, and depression, reports Tech Xplore . The "VR Genie" program from Equality Lab provides seniors with VR goggles through which they can visit simulated locations. The Miami-Dade County Mayor's Age Friendly Initiative funds the program, with the goal of giving local nursing communities VR helmets once a more extensive "dream library" is compiled. Many senior participants are no longer physically or financially capable of traveling by themselves, says Equality Lab's Alexandra Ivanovitch. "We know that things like guided imagery and meditation can be very beneficial for cognition and things of that nature, and we also know that direct behavioral interventions can be very helpful for individuals as well," noted the University of Miami's Aldrich Chan. A study in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology found persons who used VR to have positive experiences reported lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared to standard therapy, which concentrates on treating negative symptoms.