Co-exploring the potential of using virtual reality in long-term care

This project work with stakeholders, residents, family members, and care staff, in two long-term care homes to analyze the use of virtual reality to improve mood, support quality of life and increase social engagement in residents with and without dementia. Rendever is a virtual reality system that has been designed for these purposes and is used in over 400 care homes across the US, Canada and Australia. Research will be conducted over 2 years. We will include a diverse group with various sex and gender, age range, ethnic and racial backgrounds, etc. The sample will include 20 people with various types and stages of dementia, 20 family members, and 20 frontline interdisciplinary staff. This project also intends to explore effects of virtual reality on mood, quality of life, and responsive (aggressive) behaviours resulting from unmet needs in residents with dementia. The findings of this project will provide helpful insight into specific needs and preferences of LTC residents and their families. This project expands current knowledge about implementation science by adding a better understanding of user experiences about technology adoption in complex care environments such as long-term care.

Faculty Supervisor:

Lillian Hung

Student:

Partner:

Vancouver General Hospital;Rendever Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: