On a hot summer afternoon, while many New Yorkers sought refuge from the heat, the residents of the New Jewish Home on West 106th Street were engaged in extraordinary activities.
These seniors weren’t simply passing the time — they were skydiving over the Swiss Alps, exploring the deep sea, and revisiting their childhood streets, all without leaving their residence. Thanks to virtual reality technology from Mynd Immersive, the elderly residents were able to experience adventures that many would find daunting in real life.
A Journey Back in Time
For Walter Delascasas, 77, a virtual trip back to his childhood street in Havana was the highlight of the day. “It was all still there,” he shared, marveling at how he could even recognize the trees from his youth. Delascasas and his fellow residents at the New Jewish Home had the chance to relive cherished memories, and in some cases, experience new adventures they never thought possible.
“You could see how it was comforting to him.”
The New Jewish Home is just one of 60 nursing facilities in New York and New Jersey participating in the “Great American Elderverse,” a program led by Mynd Immersive. This initiative aims to enhance seniors’ cognition and quality of life by offering them immersive, virtual experiences. From nostalgic trips down memory lane to thrilling adventures like skydiving, the technology allows seniors to engage in activities that were previously out of reach.
Virtual Reality: A New Frontier in Senior Care
Mynd Immersive’s approach isn’t just about entertainment; it’s a non-pharmacological intervention aimed at improving mental health and reducing feelings of isolation among the elderly. Chris Brickler, CEO and co-founder of Mynd Immersive, explained that the company is “taking somebody that might be agitated about the state that they’re in, allowing them to go to a beach or a mountain or a lake.” This intervention not only lessens feelings of loneliness but has also been shown to improve memory by helping seniors differentiate between old and new environments.
A recent Stanford University study, conducted in collaboration with Mynd, found that 79% of older adults felt more positive after using VR, and over half reported feeling less isolated. These virtual experiences are part of a broader treatment known as reminiscence therapy, which uses photos and other reminders from the past to foster joy and improve cognitive function.
“You forget where you’re at at the present moment; [it’s] a thousand times better than using your imagination.”
The benefits of VR are also evident at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale by RiverSpring Living. Since incorporating VR sessions into their daily activities, the care home has seen significant positive effects on residents. The communal setup of the VR sessions not only helps seniors bond but also encourages them to participate in more community events outside the virtual world.
David Siegelman, the Hebrew Home’s senior vice president of quality and corporate compliance, noted how VR has helped residents reconnect with their past passions. He recounted the story of a resident with advanced dementia who was a former opera singer. When staff played a philharmonic performance through the VR headset, the resident began singing an operatic song, demonstrating the powerful emotional connection that VR can foster.
A New Horizon for Elder Care
Virtual reality is proving to be a valuable tool in the care of seniors, especially those with dementia. By offering immersive experiences that are both mentally stimulating and emotionally comforting, VR is helping to improve the quality of life for many elderly residents. As the technology continues to roll out across more facilities, it is clear that the “Great American Elderverse” is just the beginning of what’s possible in senior care.