How Older Adults Are Using V.R. to Counter Social Isolation

Loneliness and isolation have serious ramifications for older adults. Studies have shown that social disconnection can have the same impact on mortality as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. This kind of isolation is also associated with a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia and a 32 percent increased risk of stroke.

With V.R. programming, companies aim to offer older adults a way to counter social isolation through shared experiences. Some programs are specifically designed as part of physical therapy, particularly for rehabilitation after a stroke.

V.R. technology is well suited for older users, especially those with limited mobility. Movement inside a V.R. device mimics how people move naturally: Turn to the left to look left, lean in to see a close-up. And the experiences are designed to be brief — most are under 10 minutes — which helps with common concerns like nausea and eye strain.

Through the pilot program last fall, which ran at Castle Argyle and two other communities for older adults, Rendever, a V.R. headset manufacturer, found that over eight weeks of V.R. experiences, most residents reported a decrease in loneliness and an increase in social connection.

“When V.R. is done well, you get mentally transported to a place,” said Jeremy Bailenson, founding director of the Virtual Human Interaction Lab at Stanford University. “That can bring you moments of awe and moments of joy, which have incredible value in the moment, and are incredible conversation starters.”