Virtual reality for new horizons in geriatric care
With VR glasses, less mobile people can discover new worlds and refresh old memories. Then it's off to Egypt or Hanover from your armchair.
Four people take part in this excursion to a seal station at the same time.
(Image: heise online)
VR glasses have now also arrived in retirement homes, as could be seen at the geriatric care trade fair in Nuremberg. They enable people who are no longer as mobile to discover new worlds and refresh old memories thanks to various 360-degree recordings. There are various providers such as Kaleido, Remmy VR and Granny Vision. Among others, "Vitablick", whose VR glasses allow residents to take virtual trips – for example through the Herrenhausen Gardens in Hanover, was represented at the geriatric care trade fair. More than 250 care facilities are already using the service.
Virtual walks and hikes
The virtual walk brings back many memories for the elderly. The residents remember their past, which leads to stimulating conversations and an increased sense of well-being. The VR glasses can be used to take over 100 different excursions, each lasting around 15 minutes.
VR-Ausflugsziele (4 Bilder)
heise online
)To avoid motion sickness, the excursions take place in a seated position and a movie is played in the VR glasses. This allows residents to have new experiences and revive their memories despite their physical limitations, but also to "travel" to other places and discover new things.
The use of VR technology in geriatric care is nothing new. Physiotherapy exercises with VR goggles, including a gamification approach, also increase patient motivation and engagement. Companies such as Cureosity have developed special VR systems that enable both individual and group therapy. This allows therapists to monitor the progress of each patient and adjust therapy plans in real time.
(mack)
