Residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities are often unable to experience the outside world the way they used to.
But what if they still could virtually?
That's the goal of the Peplinski Group, a Michigan-based group of nursing and rehabilitation centers that recently launched a partnership with MyndVR, a company that specializes in "immersive digital therapeutics."
The Peplinski group is debuting Virtual Reality (VR) headsets in all 10 of its facilities, the first long-term care center in Michigan to do so. Stratford Pines Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Midland is one of the 10.
The VR technology will be used in the facilities for therapy and entertainment in a variety of ways.
“We can take them to the Eiffel Tower, we can take them to the lake fishing, we can take them in a shark tank looking at sharks, whales, something out of their daily life that they are not used to,” said Shay Lieber, an administrator with the Peplinski Group.
The technology will also have practical uses, like in therapy and rehabilitation.
“It has quite a few different functions. On a pure rehab standard this allows them to have fun while we’re working. Most of the other gym equipment is what I would call 'controlled torture.' It’s just exercise,” said Rick Ackerman, CEO of the Peplinski Group. “So this is bringing an immersive experience to the residents, giving them something to think about other than reps.”
The response from residents who have tried the headsets has been largely positive, Lieber said with many saying they would want to try again in the future.
“The response has been amazing, our families were so excited with it, our residents have loved it and the staff just love hearing them laugh and giggle the whole time they're doing it,” Lieber said.
Stratford Pines resident Jean Sprague enjoyed trying out the MyndVR headset.
"It was wonderful. I looked through the goggles and I saw lots of different things," she said. "Ducklings and butterflies. And I could catch them, two at a time even."
From what Ackerman said he has witnessed, many residents adapt easily to the new technology.
“What I’m struck by is that this technology is not native to them whatsoever, but within seconds they put it on, they’re given this controller, and they begin to interact,” he said. “So for me, that’s a surprise.”
Ackerman says he’s enjoyed seeing how the headsets have impacted residents positively.
“So if we find out from families that visit, that mom or dad used to really love doing (something), we can take them there, and then they can have a shared experience that we can’t replicate that way through pictures and books,” he said. “They’re just so animated. You can tell it’s really different from the activities they see in their daily life.”
Another use for VR headsets is in aiding dementia care.
“We’ll get some folks that are locked in to not speaking so much, and if we can get them to an experience that they remember from their past, like music, they will begin to sort of interact, like singing and dancing a little, and that’s huge,” he said.
Ackerman said one of the great things about the headsets is that almost anyone can use them.
“I don’t think there's going to be many folks that this wouldn’t be useful for,” he said. “When you think about nursing homes, I think the general public doesn’t think high technology. But the teams actually do fantastic rehab and now they’re getting this tool to be able to use for the residents' benefit, and I think that’s really cool.”