Introduction to Virtual Reality for Seniors
Retired pathologist Lily Mauricio, 78, recently "climbed" to the summit of Mount Everest to bond along with her daughter, Ditas, who had reached an Everest base camp many years earlier. Although Mauricio is a seasoned climber, she scaled the world’s tallest mountain virtually using a virtual reality (VR) headset provided by Rendever, an organization that has deployed VR headsets in over 400 older adult living facilities across the United States, Canada, and Australia.
How Virtual Reality Works for Seniors
Mauricio donned the VR headset on the White Sands assisted living community in La Jolla, California, where she lives. The experience was "very moving" and "awesome," with a panoramic view of the whole lot below, above, to the fitting, and to the left. This experience allowed Mauricio to attach along with her daughter and share a memorable moment together.
Virtual Reality Breaks Down Barriers
Some older adults are embracing VR to beat physical, mental, and social challenges that include aging. They use VR for attending concert events, confronting phobias, doing physical therapy, exercising, playing games, rekindling memories, traveling to exotic locales, and connecting socially. VR knocks down each barrier an older adult can have in experiencing the world, allowing seniors to examine off bucket list items and do it together.
Benefits of Virtual Reality for Social Connection
While VR is usually related to isolation, it will probably actually help older adults connect with others. Rendever’s CEO, Kyle Rand, notes that VR allows seniors to experience the world together, which is an important aspect of social connection. Additionally, VR will help older adults overcome physical limitations which will prevent them from participating in social activities.
Virtual Reality at Home
In August, Dallas startup MyndVR will launch a VR kit with HTC Vive Flow goggles, a companion tablet for caregivers or family, and access to a library of company-produced and licensed VR content. Users can peer down at Earth from the International Space Station, ride a zipline, or watch an intimate Broadway performance of The Lion King, amongst other experiences. The cost is $495 for the glasses, plus $20 a month for the content.
Cognitive Apps and Social Games
MyndVR’s library also includes cognitive apps, resembling one which requires users to accurately discover the source of sounds played in a kitchen. Additionally, older adults can play social games like virtual ping-pong and mini golf against players worldwide. Nenad Bach, a 67-year-old singer, commonly plays ping-pong virtually via the Eleven Table Tennis app on a Meta (Oculus) Quest headset, competing against players in Africa, Canada, Germany, the Philippines, and across the U.S.
Overcoming Health Challenges with Virtual Reality
Bach, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, still performs in person and plays real ping-pong as a type of physical therapy. He notes that VR will be even higher than real-life experiences, because it eliminates physical barriers. Similarly, Stephen Harris, 39, uses VR to bond along with his father, Jim, 76, who has Alzheimer’s, playing the Walkabout Mini Golf game on Quest.
Conclusion
Virtual reality is revolutionizing the way in which older adults experience the world, allowing them to beat physical, mental, and social challenges. With VR, seniors can connect with others, check off bucket list items, and experience latest things together. As technology continues to evolve, it’s likely that VR will turn into an increasingly essential tool for improving the lives of older adults. Whether it’s used for social connection, cognitive therapy, or just for fun, VR has the potential to greatly enhance the standard of life for seniors.
