VRsquared
Completed
STUDY OVERVIEW
SUMMARY
How VR can be used in a targeted, proactive way to manage responsive behaviours and distract from pain in everyday care settings remains understudied. In 2020, we conducted a study in a veterans’ long-term care home to explore whether virtual reality could reduce distress, pain, and dementia-related responsive behaviours. Thirty-three veterans used calming 360° nature-based VR experiences during both planned sessions and "targeted" care-related situations to assess feasibility, acceptability, and potential benefit in routine practice.
KEY FINDINGS
Overall, VR showed promise for reducing distress and helping distract from pain. Only five participants received targeted sessions, which were harder to deliver due to workflow challenges and staff hesitation during behavioural distress, while scheduled sessions fit more easily into routine care. Even so, targeted use showed possible reductions in triggered behaviours, suggesting the need to improve delivery methods. Key insights came from therapist observations and interviews, showing high engagement, relaxation, enjoyment, and perceived benefit.
PUBLICATIONS
Appel, L., Appel, E., Lewis, S., Cheng, L. (2022). Virtual reality for veteran relaxation (VR2): Evaluating VR therapy for veterans with dementia. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 3, 724020. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2021.724020
PARTNERS
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