Author Identifier
Davina Porock: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4161-9697
Patricia Cain: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4377-3690
Manonita Ghosh: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0522-1959
Mandy Stanley: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7958-5181
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Australasian Journal on Ageing
Publisher
Wiley
School
Centre for Research in Aged Care / School of Nursing and Midwifery / School of Arts and Humanities / School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
72496
Funders
Australian Government Regional Arts Fund / Edith Cowan University
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this project was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of virtual reality (VR) as a leisure activity for people living in residential aged care. Virtual reality experiences may offer alternatives for residents with limited mobility, or during times when older people are unable to leave residential care. Methods: The intervention used VR videos delivered via a head-mounted device. Video content was created by a local artist specifically for use with older Western Australian adults and used local content. VR sessions were videotaped for analysis. The evaluation included structured observation of video content to assess mood and engagement and post-intervention interviews with participants. Results: Mood and engagement scores indicated overall favourable mood and considerable positive engagement with the VR experience. Interview content analysis reflected the enjoyment participants took in visiting places they had once been and the surprising ways that the experience made them feel and act as though they were actually there. Videos featuring coastal visits were the most popular and videos featuring music were the most engaging. Some participants found the head-mounted device uncomfortable. VR was considered potentially beneficial for residents with limited mobility or living with cognitive impairment. Conclusions: Overall VR is a feasible and acceptable leisure activity for older people in residential care. The use of local content has the potential to prompt memories and generate new conversations. Future use of VR may consider different modes of video delivery and advancements in evaluation.
DOI
10.1111/ajag.13379
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Porock, D., Cain, P., Young, C., Hilbers, J., Bomm, M., Ghosh, M., & Stanley, M. (2024). The Careful Project: Evaluating the acceptability of local virtual reality experiences as a leisure activity for residents in aged care. Australasian Journal on Ageing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.13379