What if you could visit your childhood home once more and relive the memories you cherished there? Thanks to advancements in virtual reality (VR) technology, this is becoming an increasingly accessible reality.

While VR is commonly associated with video games and entertainment, its potential as a therapeutic tool is gaining recognition. Typically experienced through a headset that immerses the wearer in a simulated, 3D environment, virtual reality is transforming a long-standing therapeutic technique, reminiscence therapy.

First proposed by psychiatrist Robert Butler, who sought to help patients cope with the end of their lives, reminiscence therapy is based on the premise that reflecting on one’s past helps patients find a sense of closure and peace.

Traditionally, reminiscence therapy involves engaging the senses to evoke memories—viewing old photographs, listening to music, or recalling scents associated with significant life events. Numerous studies have reported an increase in well-being and overall quality of life for older adults who received reminiscence therapy.

Recently, VR technology has been incorporated into reminiscence therapy, bringing nostalgic memories and sensory experiences to life in a way that is difficult to accomplish with traditional methods. A study conducted in living facilities in Egypt found that VR reminiscence therapy significantly improved the quality of life for patients, and was associated with reduced depressive and suicidal thoughts.

VR reminiscence therapy typically involves weekly sessions in which participants wear a VR headset while using handheld controllers. During these sessions, participants are guided to explore and reminisce about memories from their past. Commonly, older adults use Google Street View to revisit their childhood homes or neighborhoods.

One program integrating VR into elder care is Rendever, a VR-based platform designed to combat isolation and loneliness in senior living communities. We spoke with Jennifer Stamps at Rendever, a neuroscientist with a background in clinical research, who shared how VR has changed her perspective on treating patients, particularly those with severe dementia. Having previously felt helpless to engage her patients with severe impairments, she was struck by the effectiveness of VR reminiscence therapy. “I have witnessed several instances of people with very severe dementia, who’ve been completely mute for months, instantly begin recounting detailed stories from their past.”

As David Stoller of Rendever points out, the transition to VR use varies greatly from person to person. “We develop very clear deployment plans that make VR very accessible and easy to jump into for older adults.” These plans may start with simple activities, such as viewing still images, and then progress to more complex, immersive experiences like virtual tours or animal-based programs.

As VR technology continues to advance, its potential in elder care continues to grow. Whether through traditional reminiscence therapy or the immersive experiences VR offers, reflecting on the past provides clear benefits, enhancing emotional well-being and mental health in older adults.

-Vanessa DiPasquale, Contributing Writer

Feature Image: Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels, Creative Commons

First Image: Anita Jankovic at Unsplash, Creative Commons

Second Image: Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels, Creative Commons