A virtual reality (VR) program that was piloted in January 2021 at Ohio Living Breckenridge Village in Willoughby has now expanded to more Ohio Living communities, including Ohio Living Mount Pleasant in Monroe.
Fueled by Rendever, the VR platform leverages Google Street View technology to present a 360-degree view of familiar and faraway places, from a house to the Himalayas. Interactive games including “I Spy” and “Balloon Popper,” as well as relaxing activity guides are also popular offerings.
Residents across all levels of care are engaging with the innovative technology. VR headsets are adjustable to accommodate each resident’s level of mobility, and the interactive view can even be simultaneously shown on a television, so a group can “travel” together.
The Ohio Living Foundation’s Lifelong Learning and Enrichment Endowment and the generosity of dedicated donors has covered the operational costs of the Rendever platform, as well as VR headsets and tablets.
In case you missed the recent segment, Ohio Living Mount Pleasant residents were featured as part of a story about combating loneliness and isolation with VR technology. Click to watch: https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/finding-solutions/makes-me-feel-a-little-bit-more-human-seniors-use-vr-to-combat-loneliness-isolation-in-care-facility.