Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Health

Background:

• Virtual Reality (VR) therapies are increasingly studied for Persons Living with Dementia (PLwD), showing general well-being benefits.
• Most VR therapy research occurs in formal settings, with limited exploration of at-home applications for PLwD and family caregiver interaction.
• This study addresses the gap in understanding VR's role in facilitating communication within the home environment for PLwD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of an at-home VR intervention (VRx@Home) in facilitating communication between PLwD and their family caregivers.
• To compare the impact of VR technology versus traditional tablet-based technology on PLwD-caregiver communication.
• To assess user preferences and gather feedback on VR and tablet technologies for in-home use.

Main Methods:

• Families participated in at-home training and baseline data collection.
• Intervention involved 2 weeks of either VR (with tablet for caregiver) or tablet-only, with weekly remote researcher sessions and independent use.
• Data collected included communication outcomes, technology preferences, and general feedback through surveys and interviews.

Main Results:

• Preliminary results indicate both VR and tablet interventions improved communication (frequency, engagement, duration) compared to baseline.
• VR technology demonstrated a greater extent of communication improvement than tablet-only use.
• Entertainment and animal themes were favored. Preferences varied, with a notable portion preferring VR, tablet-only, or both equally.

Conclusions:

• VR therapy is feasible for at-home implementation and can enhance communication between PLwD and caregivers.
• The study underscores the importance of user preferences and offering technology options for successful long-term adoption of VR in home settings.
• Further research can explore optimizing VR interventions for diverse PLwD and caregiver needs.