How Virtual Reality Is Helping Seniors Breathe New Life Into Old Memories

Virtual reality (VR) technology is making inroads into senior care in the United States and overseas, giving older adults opportunities to remotely experience distant places, relive cherished memories, and enjoy otherwise inaccessible activities, reports NBC News . VR also may potentially enhance reminiscence therapy, in which people with impaired memory are encouraged to look at old pictures, listen to music, or study once-familiar objects as a way to engage their minds and improve their mood. A pilot study involving a VR platform from MyndVR showed seniors enjoyed using the technology and seemed calmer and more alert following sessions. "VR has the capability of creating emotionally evocative experiences," says Albert Rizzo at the University of Southern California's Institute for Creative Technologies. Users of the MyndVR system can try out a range of virtual activities, from touring cities around the world to watching animals play to reliving their youth through recreations of past experiences. Rizzo thinks VR could be become a routine ingredient of life in senior communities, if it catches on.