Virtual Reality Empathy Experience Offers New Lens on Dementia Care
- Rendever created a virtual reality program that simulates symptoms of dementia for caregivers and senior living staff.
- A recent study showed improvements in stress, depression, and quality of life among participants using VR.
Rendever developed a virtual reality training program that helps caregivers experience symptoms associated with dementia, including perceptual changes, hallucinations, and cognitive decline. The immersive experience is intended to support more empathetic caregiving by allowing users to understand the condition from a first-person perspective.
The training includes interactive VR scenarios, a symptom library, and real-time support from a virtual AI guide named Nova. It can be used in staff onboarding, skill refresh sessions, and family engagement workshops to foster better understanding and emotional connection with those living with dementia.
“Empathy is much more than a buzzword; it's fundamental to care,” said Kyle Rand, Cofounder and CEO of Rendever, in an official press release. “This new dementia and empathy training program gives teams an accessible, hands-on experience to understand the symptomology of dementia and provide better care centered on empathy. Based on early industry feedback, we are excited to see this deployed for staff, families, and broader community outreach efforts in a way that will help society better understand dementia.”
A recent study cited in the announcement reported that older adults with dementia and their family members experienced improved quality of life and reduced stress after participating in weekly VR sessions. Family caregivers also reported fewer symptoms of depression and burnout.
🌀 Tom’s Take:
VR has long been touted as an empathy machine as it lets users step into the shoes of other people through its simulation capabilities. Rendever is tapping into this power to take caregiving training to the next level.
Source: GlobeNewswire / Rendever
