The Special Care Center of Ponte Vedra Gardens is constantly seeking new methods to communicate more effectively with their seniors. The institution has recently started relying on virtual reality technology to enhance its efforts of nurturing fruitful relationships.
The institute has been implementing the programme for the last six months owing to a relationship with Viva Vita: Live Life. The latter is an organisation specialising in Catering advanced virtual reality solutions for representatives of senior communities across the US.
Ponte Vedra Gardens Program Director Jennifer McCormick has witnessed a shift in people’s reactions to it since the start of the VR initiative.
According to McCormick, the new VR solution for efficient elderly communication shows the path forward for how things should be. She revealed that the restrictions forced upon the facility during the COVID 19 outbreak had pushed them to find better ways of gaining better connections with the seniors.
McCormick elaborated further, saying that the residents of the care facility can easily choose to be a part of the VR experiences available there.
The new programme has many types of virtual trips that can take the residents on simulated trips across the globe. Some of these include major international destinations in Egypt, France, other parts of Europe and different places across the United States.
There are also a lot more different virtual trips available to partake in. Moreover, the developers keep adding new virtual stages to the offering on a monthly basis.
McCormick said that experiences can be worked upon with the aim of customising and improving them, based on the different personality traits of the seniors. Throwing some more light on the available features, she said that the seniors can even take trips to visit the famous Mona Lisa painting or visit the Louvre.
McCormick has been witness to VR technology helping to create paths of efficient connection that enable residents to interact with people around them. According to her, the technology can be used as a way of helping seniors recall times when they went to a location that they were just experiencing with the VR environment. Interestingly, when this happens, users may start talking about their visits many years back.
McCormick also said that those who are afflicted by dementia usually find it difficult to recall and discuss different experiences. She stressed that virtual reality-based simulated tours have already shown signs of promise for users in that regard, hinting that it was enjoyable for them.
Along with the care for patients, some of the staff members can also enjoy virtual tours. They have the permission to do so, as it helps them get an idea about exactly what the elderly are seeing.
currently, the facility possesses two VR headsets, with each having a screen that covers the user’s eyes. Since the headsets are more portable than larger monitors, they are more convenient for the users.
McCormick also revealed that the process is simple. She and her coworkers just take the headsets into the rooms where the elderly are staying at.
On average, one of the VR sessions can last between 15 to 20 minutes. Right now, there are plans in place to increase the number of headsets at the facility, along with investing in other components for more vivid VR experiences.
