What do you know about virtual reality (VR)? While the headsets are not always cheap, they’re becoming a popular way to engage and entertain older men and women. This is especially true of seniors who are suffering from Alzheimer’s.

What VR Can Do?

Alzheimer’s patients find their short-term memories declining, which leaves them talking and longing for the past. A VR headset can help.

A University of Kent study showed one of five virtual environments to dementia patients. After more than a dozen sessions exploring these environments, the researchers found that many of the participants started to recall other memories related to that setting.

With the participant talking more about the past, family and friends had new topics to explore while spending time together. Family caregivers mentioned that the VR sessions seemed to uplift and improve their parent’s mood. It gave them something to look forward to together.

How VR Works

The VR headset makes it appear as though you are in a location. You can look around and use a controller to explore an area by walking around. Paired with Google Earth, you could have your dad wear a VR headset after you’ve loaded the map of a town where he grew up. Your dad can then walk through the streets, look at the town’s parks and/or beaches, and walk past a childhood home.

National Geographic has virtual reality domains to explore that can take your parents on a kayak trip to explore the icebergs or trek across Antarctica. Using the same immersive format, if your dad used to love to play tennis, you could load a VR tennis game and let him play. There are VR games for baseball, bowling, and fishing, too.

One worry that people have is that the person using a VR headset must be standing up.
You can use a VR headset while sitting down, there is no rule that you must be standing. Your dad can explore new areas from the safety of a recliner or sofa if that is safer. As long as there is room to move their arms around, he should be fine using most VR games and applications from a seated position.

VR may not be something your dad can set up without help. Plus, you still want him to socialize. If you hire elder care aides to spend time in the family home, your dad has someone to talk to. There’s also someone who can turn on the VR and get him started.

Elder care services are ideal for companionship and socialization. Call to arrange services for your dad so that he ages at home without being lonely.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Senior Care in Sunny Vale, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855

Sources:
Kent.ac.uk

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andy@hcprosonline.com

CEO at HomeCare Professionals

Andy Howardis a Bay Area Native who holds a BA in Political Science (University of Colorado at Boulder, ’97). After college Andy worked in the surging tech industry.His Grandmother however, would suffer a significant decline in health and ultimately needed in-home care. The experience of a loved one depending on outside help to age in place proved to be pivotal for Andy as he left the tech industry in 2002 for an opportunity in the home care world with a large provider. After having success in home care, but being frustrated by corporate constraints Andy founded HomeCare Professionals in 2005.He methodically built the company one client at a time by focusing on hiring quality caregivers to ensure positive outcomes. Currently Andy serves as the CEO of HomeCare Professionals and is also highly active in the non-profit organization California Association of Health Services at Home (CAHSAH) which advocates for a higher standard of in-home care for those who wish to remain living at home in California.

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