Residents from Glanville Village aged care have been travelling overseas, exploring famous landmarks and swimming with dolphins (virtually).
Echuca Regional Health’s wellbeing and primary health department are offering simulated virtual reality experiences to enhance the mental health and overall health outcomes in residents.
There are 24 different countries that the residents can and have been touring, over the past few weeks.
Glanville leisure and lifestyle facilitator Brooke Thomson said the VR sessions had been an opportunity for residents to reminisce and travel without restrictions.
She said it was difficult in the beginning to explain what VR was to the residents, but once they tried it out, they were thrilled with what they could see.
“It’s great, it’s a bit of escapism for them,’’ Ms Thomson said.
Glanville resident John Ward said he kept coming back for the session because the experience was fantastic.
“It’s the liveliness of the images that I love. It feels like you’re right there in the image,” Mr Ward said.
Wellbeing and mental health manager Fiona Clark said research had shown there were significant therapeutic and entertainment benefits of VR in aged care.
“VR can help to reduce apathy in elderly patients, it gives them an enjoyable activity to participate in, can lead to them feeling less socially isolated, and supports positive mental health,” Ms Clark said.
“When people participate in VR it allows for memories to come to the surface, for reminiscent therapy to occur and encourages the individual to connect with stories of their past.”
ERH wellbeing and primary mental health employee Allison Connelly said at the end of the session, residents were given the opportunity to share how the experience felt and whether the images sparked any feelings of nostalgia.
“Sharing their experiences allows them to tell their stories and connect with the group as a whole,” Ms Connelly said.
There are currently five VR headsets owned by ERH.
The VR equipment is not only utilised in aged care, but also in community groups and in rehabilitation.
The department hopes that in future they can offer VR to other departments throughout the hospital and also make VR at Glanville a regular weekly activity.