“It Makes You Feel That You Are There”: Exploring the Acceptability of Virtual Reality Nature Environments for People with Memory Loss

Abstract

Aim: To report on the acceptability of virtual reality (VR) nature environments for people with memory loss at memory cafes, and explore the experiences and perceptions of carers and staff. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted between January and March 2019. Ten adults with memory loss, eight carers and six volunteer staff were recruited from two memory cafes, located in Cornwall, UK. There were 19 VR sessions which were audio recorded and all participants were interviewed at the end of the sessions. Framework analysis was used to identify patterns and themes in the data. Results: During the VR experience, participants were engaged to varying degrees, with engagement facilitated by the researcher, and in some cases, with the help of a carer. Participants responded positively to the nature scenes, finding them soothing and evoking memories. The VR experience was positive; many felt immersed in nature and saw it as an opportunity to ‘go somewhere’. However, it was not always positive and for a few, it could be ‘strange’. Participants reflected on their experience of the VR equipment, and volunteer staff and carers also shared their perceptions of VR for people with dementia in long-term care settings. Conclusions: The VR nature experience was an opportunity for people with memory loss to be immersed in nature and offered the potential to enhance their quality of life. Future work should build on lessons learned and continue to work with people with dementia in developing and implementing VR technology in long-term care settings.

Designing virtual natural environments for older adults in residential care facilities

“…The participants used three types of headsets each paired with their own specific audiovisual VR content. These specific content-device combinations were: a) 360 • blue space videos -360 • videos of coastal environments [33], viewed on Oculus Go headsets; b) the-Blu -a series of interactive under water environments rendered using real time 3D graphics (Wevr, USA), viewed on a Samsung Odyssey headset; and c) VR Island -an interactive explorable island featuring various types of natural environments rendered using real time 3D graphics, viewed on an a HTC Vive headset. With all three HMDs, a pair of brand-specific cableless handheld controllers were included for user interaction.…”

“…There are several previous examples of studies that have involved viewings of natural environments by VR technology for various therapeutic purposes including: improving muscle strength and balance [28]; improving cognitive function [28,29]; reducing anxiety and agitation [30], and improving engagement, apathy, and mood states [31] in people with dementia; and improving motivation to exercise and mental wellbeing [32]. A recent study explored the acceptability of VNEs for people with memory loss at memory cafes [33]. Some of these studies have involved activities like kayaking [28], bicycling [29,32], or interacting with objects present in the VE through hand and arm movements [31].…”

“…Oculus Go is a lightweight cableless standalone display that can be strapped onto the viewer's head, alternatively held in the viewer's hands and looked into as in using a pair of binoculars. The 360 • blue space videos are filmed at various coastal locations in Cornwall, England [33]. Experiencing these videos through an Oculus Go headset offers the viewer three degrees of freedom, which means that the headset tracks the viewer's head orientation and the viewer is able to view the scenery from any direction by turning their head.…”

A Virtual Smash Room for Venting Frustration or Just Having Fun: Participatory Design of Virtual Environments in Digitally Reinforced Cancer Rehabilitation

“…In the free-text responses of the evaluation, there was an explicit request for nature and relaxing environments, and this is an area where VR can be a complement to real outdoor, natural environments [16,42]. The effect of VR on emotions and the mental state is simultaneously being studied in dementia and geriatric care where applications for reducing anxiety and apathy are explored [43][44][45]. Learnings from these studies will also be applicable to cancer rehabilitation to some extent.…”

Exposure to virtual nature: the impact of different immersion levels on skin conductance level, heart rate, and perceived relaxation

“…Virtual reality (VR) is currently being used and studied as a tool for psychological intervention in various ways (Carl et al 2019;Pizzoli et al 2019). Virtual relaxation, espe-B Thiemo Knaust thiemo1knaust@bundeswehr.org inpatients, older adults in nursing homes, long-term care; Mostajeran et al 2021;Orr et al 2021). Therefore, over the past years, the research focus has shifted to virtual natural environments presented via immersive technology and to the question of whether they have a relaxing effect on recipients (Browning et al 2020a).…”