Virtual Reality technology came to the rescue for one resident of Yorkare Homes’ Westfield Park Care Home.
Shirley, who suffers from dementia, sadly became too unwell to go to her son’s wedding in Italy but didn’t have to miss out on all the excitement of the special day, thanks to the ClassVR Virtual Reality system, supported by Avantis Systems and Adaptive IT Solutions. ClassVR is a virtual and augmented reality set designed to provide awareness, happiness and better communication and interaction with others.
Yorkare Homes had already bought the ClassVR headsets for all of its Care Homes, which have been used by the residents to try new experiences, including skydiving and walking the Great Wall of China, all from the safety of the Care Home. The headsets proved to be so successful, that the home decided to buy a 360-degree camera, to enable friends and family to capture their own recordings of events and trips that their relatives wouldn’t be able to experience otherwise.
It was this 360-degree camera, that allowed Shirley’s son, Ric to film the wedding service and celebrations, and play this back to Shirley upon his return using the ClassVR headset. Whilst watching the virtual reality video, Shirley commented on how lovely the wedding was, and was chatting with Ric about guests she hadn’t seen for many years.
“I continue to be impressed with the level of support and care mum receives at Westfield Park,” said Ric “Without their forward-thinking innovations, my mum wouldn’t have been able to experience our wedding. Even though it was only a virtual experience, Mum loved it and it meant the world to us that we were able to involve her in some way”
The ClassVR headsets have been a great addition to the activity team, and the technology will be used for reminiscence therapy, where families can record places of interest and importance, and play them back to their loved ones, to try and stimulate special moments between loved ones.
The original article featured on the Care Home Professional website.