Implementing Virtual Reality to Enhance Reminiscence Therapy for Older Adults

Hillcrest Nursing Home, a care facility for older adults, aimed to enhance the mental and emotional well-being of its residents through innovative approaches. Among several strategies, the institution identified reminiscence therapy as a promising avenue to boost engagement and quality of life.

However, the key challenge lay in developing a cost-effective and immersive digital solution that could adapt to the diverse cognitive abilities and life experiences of its residents. Traditional approaches to reminiscence therapy lacked the ability to fully transport individuals into meaningful past moments.

To overcome this, the facility explored Virtual Reality (VR) as a transformative tool—seeking to implement a scalable and engaging method that could make reminiscence therapy more vivid, personalized, and impactful for elder care.

To address the challenge, the project introduced Virtual Reality (VR) technology as a means to deliver immersive reminiscence therapy experiences tailored to the cognitive and emotional needs of older adults. The intervention was implemented in two key phases:

1. Content creation and pilot deployment

• Produced 360° video content featuring nostalgic and locally meaningful locations—such as nearby beaches, farms, and landmarks—curated to reflect the personal histories and preferences of the residents.

• Leveraged YouTube VR and Meta Quest headsets to ensure ease of access and usability, especially for users with limited digital familiarity.

• Conducted a pilot trial to evaluate resident engagement, emotional response, and comfort with the technology, gathering valuable feedback to inform future iterations.

2. Staff Empowerment and sustainable adoption

• Developed a comprehensive training programme for care staff, including step-by-step instructional videos on filming, editing, and managing 360° VR content.

• Equipped staff with the tools and technical skills needed to independently create and deliver personalized VR experiences, ensuring long-term integration into care routines.

• Established a growing library of custom VR content, enabling repeated therapeutic use and ongoing expansion based on residents’ evolving needs.

This innovative initiative was delivered by the WiSAR Lab at the Atlantic Technological University, as part of the Data2Sustain European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) network, demonstrating how digital transformation can meaningfully enhance care services in residential settings.

The implementation of VR-based reminiscence therapy at Hillcrest Nursing Home led to meaningful improvements across resident care, staff capability, and operational efficiency. The outcomes demonstrate the transformative potential of digital innovation in elder care:

• Improved resident well-being
  Residents demonstrated higher levels of participation and emotional engagement. Feedback highlighted enhanced mood, increased social interaction, and a renewed sense of connection to meaningful memories.

• Sustainable VR integration
  Hillcrest Nursing Home now maintains a dedicated library of VR content, enabling regular and ongoing use of reminiscence therapy as part of its care routine—without relying on external providers.

• Empowered and skilled staff
  Care staff acquired practical digital skills in content creation and VR technology, fostering a culture of innovation and enabling the facility to continue developing personalized therapeutic experiences in-house.

• Scalable and transferable model
  The project’s success provides a replicable blueprint for other elder care institutions seeking to adopt immersive technologies for therapeutic purposes.

• Cost-effective long-term impact
  The upfront investment in VR equipment and staff training delivered lasting value by reducing reliance on outsourced services and creating internal capacity for enriched resident care.

Do's

• Personalise content to reflect users’ personal histories and cultural backgrounds to enhance emotional engagement and therapeutic effectiveness.

• Provide accessible technical training with clear, easy-to-follow instructions to empower non-technical staff to adopt and use new tools confidently.

• Gather and apply continuous feedback to iteratively refine elements such as video length and session formats, improving user comfort and participation.

Don'ts

• Don't use generic or impersonal VR content, as it may reduce emotional impact and therapeutic value.

• Don't assume staff will adopt new technology without proper guidance—lack of training can lead to low confidence and poor integration.

• Don't overlook user experience—failing to refine based on feedback can result in discomfort and disengagement.