Older adults' perspectives on using virtual reality to view nature landscapes in long-term care homes: a qualitative...

Older adults residing in long-term care (LTC) homes (also referred to as LTC facilities) often have limited opportunities to access nature environments, which are known to support psychological well-being. Virtual reality (VR) offers a novel approach to delivering immersive nature experiences for this population. This qualitative study explored the perceptions of using VR to view nature landscapes among older adults in LTC homes.

Using purposive sampling, we recruited 16 older adults (aged 60-84) from 10 LTC facilities in Taiwan. Participants viewed six 360-degree nature videos (each about 2 min long) in a single VR session via a VR headset. Within 1 week of the VR session, participants completed individual, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using content analysis.

Five themes and corresponding categories were generated: (1) as a window to the past, revisiting childhood/youth and reconnecting with places once visited; (2) embracing serenity, feeling relaxed/lightness, savoring the joy, sensing ease/comfort, and feeling inner calm/tranquility; (3) escaping the confines of reality, unlocking a sense of freedom and revisiting natural landscapes; (4) rekindling the healing power of dreams/hope, reigniting hope and motivation and fulfilling unfinished dreams; and (5) unreal and unsettling realities, expressing negative experiences including loneliness, dizziness, and a virtual-reality gap.

Immersive VR nature experiences can evoke nostalgic memories, promote relaxation, provide a temporary sense of freedom, and inspire hope. However, some participants also reported challenges such as dizziness, feelings of artificiality, or loneliness, highlighting the importance of careful design and individualized implementation.