Interactive Glasses Open a World of Opportunity for Aged Care

For people living with dementia, stimulating their minds and sparking a trip down memory lane has been revealed to have a positive impact on helping them remember and communicate.

Mercy Health have joined in a revolutionary program allowing some of their residents to experience amazing things without leaving their armchairs – all with the help of 360-degree interactive glasses.  

“We are offering our residents living with dementia a transformative experience utilising the latest technological advances,” said Voula Yankoulas, Operations Director for Mercy Health Residential Aged Care.

The virtual reality headsets are linked to smartphones where residents can explore the canals of Venice, go hangliding and more with just a turn of their head.

Using this technology, Mercy Health hopes to increase social interaction, alleviate distress of those living with dementia and allow them to experience an activity that they are no longer able to physically do.

Mercy Health’s virtually reality program aims to stimulate memories, engage discussion around reminiscence and create conversation triggers that will allow residents to participate more actively within their environment.

This innovative pilot program will document and evaluate the use of this technology in a dementia care setting and provide an evidence base to contribute to the research into best practice of technological applications in dementia care.

Mercy Health resident Herman Vucci (92) used this amazing technology to take the trip of a lifetime to New York City. “It was just fantastic,” he said. “I got to go travelling without spending any money!”

Mercy Health has purchased four of the virtual reality headsets so far. To help them buy two headsets for each of their 22 aged care homes, click here.  

Find out more about Mercy Health here.