A study of the effects of immersive technology on senior living residents showed “significant” increases of social health and connection, as well as feelings of trust in their communities, according to the collaborators.
Vi Senior Living, an owner and operator of 10 continuing care retirement / life plan communities across six states, collaborated with Boston-based technology company Rendever to evaluate the effectiveness of the firm’s virtual reality platform on the social health of residents.
Six to eight assisted living residents at Vi at Bentley Village in Naples, FL, participated in an eight-week study using Rendever’s VR goggles and tablets. Before the programming, the community administered evidence-based screenings, questionnaires and surveys to measure health and wellness. Abridged screenings were performed weekly, followed by post screenings at the conclusion of the program.
Residents participated in 40- to 50-minute classes three days a week with a staff facilitator, who led the group on various virtual excursions and tours at a variety of locations. The facilitator shared facts and experiences while residents asked questions and shared their own personal anecdotes, according to Vi Assistant Vice President of Living Well Tony Galvan.
“Resident engagement and lifestyle programming is one of those things that’s tough to quantify,” Galvan told McKnight’s Senior Living. “For us, having a platform, solution or offering to retroactively look back on qualitatively and quantitatively, the data and numbers are able to objectively quantify that.”
Galvan called it a “balance between smiles and stats,” having the data to back up the positive reactions that community leaders and staff members witnessed among resident participants.
The study showed statistical significance that validated the positive effects that virtual reality can have on the well-being of older adults. In the eight-week experiment:
- 100% of residents significantly improved their overall social network score.
- 83% significantly increased the size of their social networks and attended more social events.
- 67% significantly improved their depression index scores and showed significant improvements in the quality of life and thriving indices.
- Residents felt 33% more satisfied with the community, and 36% said they felt more included at the community.
Rendever Director of Research Jennifer Stamps said that the study revealed the nonpharmacologic power of the platform.
“We saw extremely consistent and significant increases in all measures of social health and connection, along with feelings of trust and their sense of connection,” Stamps said in a statement. “We saw significant improvements in depression and mental health indices, as well as subjective reports of energy levels, physical health, memory and enthusiasm for life. That’s what this chapter of life should be all about: living life to the fullest, staying connected and overcoming physical, cognitive or geographical obstacles that may be in your path.”
The CCRC now offers multiple virtual reality sessions daily to its assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing residents. Vi also expanded use of the platform to Vi at Aventura in Aventura, FL, and Vi at Grayhawk in Scottsdale, AZ, and Galvan said there are plans to ultimately roll it out across the entire portfolio.
