Implementation of a Virtual Reality Recreation Program in Long-term Care

Authors

Leigh Hayden, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Ferzana Chaze, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Ashwin Kamath, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Andrea Azevedo, Sheridan College
Destanee Bucko, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Alexandra Jackson, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Christianne Reyna
Yara Kashlan, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Mireille Dube, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Jacqueline De Paula, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Kathryn Warren-Norton, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Kate Dupuis, Sheridan CollegeFollow
Lia Tsotsos, Sheridan CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-6-2022

Keywords

virtual reality, age in place, evaluation, age-related rehabilitation, elderly

Abstract

Introduction: This manuscript describes the implementation of a Virtual Reality (VR) recreation program at long-term care sites across Ontario, Canada, using the RE-AIM Framework to guide the implementation and its evaluation.

Methods: We developed a VR recreation program to enhance the lives of long-term care residents, through 3 sequential phases. In Phase 1, we learned about resident and staff needs through focus groups, staff surveys and observations. In Phase 2, we developed 10 VR experiences, based on the data from Phase 1. In Phase 3, we implemented the VR experiences and supporting manual and measured their implementation, using the RE-AIM Framework.

Results: We found the VR program to be highly (but not consistently) implementable across all sites. Factors that supported implementation were the following: resident interest in the content and technology, relative ease of use for staff to implement and formally integrating VR into the recreation calendar. Factors that impeded implementation were the following: the size of the headset, inability for the headset to cast given the sites’ Information Technology infrastructure and some content that was not engaging.

Conclusions: VR programs are highly implementable and this implementation is enhanced by integration of the program into existing recreational systems, ease of use and resident engagement.

Faculty

Sheridan Research

Journal

Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering

Volume

9

Version

Publisher's version

Peer Reviewed/Refereed Publication

yes

Copyright

© Leigh Hayden, Ferzana Chaze, Ashwin Kamath, Andrea Azevedo, Destanee Bucko, Alexandra Jackson, Christianne Reyna, Yara Kashlan, Mireille Dube, Jacqueline De Paula, Kathryn Warren-Norton, Kate Dupuis, Lia Tsotsos

Terms of Use

Terms of Use for Works posted in SOURCE.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Original Publication Citation

Hayden, L., Chaze, F., Kamath, A., Azevedo, A., Bucko, D., Jackson, A., Reyna, C., Kashlan, Y., Dube, M., De Paula, J., Warren-Norton, K., Dupuis, K., & Tsotsos, L. (2022). Implementation of a Virtual Reality recreation program in long-term care. Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1177/20556683211070994

SOURCE Citation

Hayden, Leigh; Chaze, Ferzana; Kamath, Ashwin; Azevedo, Andrea; Bucko, Destanee; Jackson, Alexandra; Reyna, Christianne; Kashlan, Yara; Dube, Mireille; De Paula, Jacqueline; Warren-Norton, Kathryn; Dupuis, Kate; and Tsotsos, Lia, "Implementation of a Virtual Reality Recreation Program in Long-term Care" (2022). Emerging Technologies: Exploring the health and well-being benefits of using virtual reality with adults living in long-term care communities. 3.
https://source.sheridancollege.ca/centres_elder_emerging_technologies/3