How Virtual Reality is Benefiting Seniors

Virtual reality (VR) technology is being used to improve seniors' lives worldwide by mitigating loneliness, enhancing psychological health, and remotely transporting them to exotic destinations from the comfort of their homes, reports Forbes . Tokyo researcher Kenta Toshima employs VR to help nursing home residents visit both new and old locales via made-to-order VR experiences recorded on a high-resolution 360-degree camera. "The VR experience makes residents feel like they are out of the nursing home and can help ease their anxiety and loneliness," he said. Multiple residents can enjoy the VR experience concurrently, helping to foster a sense of community. Another application lets prospective residents virtually tour their future retirement home before construction is complete. "The use of VR is mitigating anxiety because seniors are able to get an authentic and emotional feel for the atmosphere that typical renderings and two-dimensional technology can't offer," said Adell Cuminale with Cloverwood Senior Living, which is using VR so retirees can immerse themselves in the forthcoming Terraces at Cloverwood development. VR also is proving popular among seniors as a tool for visiting cherished places where they lived or traveled to in the past, as well as locations they wish to check off their "bucket list." This application is especially therapeutic for seniors with cognition, dementia, or other issues.