Bringing Joy and Respite Through Virtual Reality at Circle of Care’s Adult Day Program (ADP)
At Circle of Care, we believe that technology, when used with care, can make a real difference in people’s lives. That’s why we’re excited to be part of a new research trial led by Dr. Lora Appel, a professor at York University who has spent her career exploring how virtual reality (VR) can support patients, families, and caregivers. Dr. Appel has led projects that use VR to reduce anxiety, manage pain, and even create special shared experiences for seniors and their loved ones. In this latest study, she is looking at how virtual reality might bring comfort, joy, and moments of respite to people living with dementia and to the caregivers who support them.
How Virtual Reality is Making a Difference
Living with dementia comes with many challenges—not just for the person with the diagnosis, but also for the caregivers who often experience stress and fatigue. Through this project, select participants in our Adult Day Program are given VR headsets to use at home; while using it, they can be transported to a beach, a concert, or even a scenic outdoor adventure. These immersive experiences help lift spirits, spark memories, and encourage social interaction. At the same time, their family caregivers get a much-needed break to rest or focus on themselves, knowing their loved one is engaged and supported.
“We chose to focus primarily on how VR can provide respite to caregivers of people living with dementia because this is what we heard from our community partners and people with lived experience as being most important,” explains Samantha Lewis-Fung, Research Coordinator at OpenLab, University Health Network, and one of the team members working on this study.
This project reminds us that when we talk about care, we must think holistically—not only about those living with dementia, but also about the network of care that surrounds them. Family members, friends, and unpaid caregivers play a critical role in supporting their loved ones, and as our population ages, this kind of caregiving will become even more essential.
Designed with Seniors and Caregivers in Mind
Not all VR platforms are easy to use, especially for seniors. That’s why Dr. Appel and her team developed caregiVR, a simple and accessible program designed specifically for people with dementia and their caregivers. This program takes less than 30 minutes for caregivers to learn to use.
Early feedback from families participating in the study has been very positive. Caregivers share how relieved they feel seeing their loved ones smile and participate, while participants enjoy music, conversation, and playful moments that brighten their day.
“We have loved doing this study,” says Samantha. “Seeing the joy and sense of wonder it brings people when they experience VR has been so rewarding. We see them singing, tapping their feet, and talking about their memories.”
Innovation at the Heart of our ADP
Although the study is still in progress, the early results are promising. Clients are showing more joy and engagement, and caregivers report feeling less stress and burnout.
Initiatives like this help us reimagine what is possible for people living with dementia. Rather than seeing their world shrink, we can use technology to reconnect them to the people, places, and experiences they once enjoyed—right from the comfort of their home.
Dementia often limits a person’s sense of space and possibility, but it doesn’t have to. With the right supports, including Adult Day Programs and accessible technologies, we can create more expansive, joyful lives.
By partnering with researchers like Dr. Appel and her team, we are helping to shape the future of dementia care and showing the exciting possibilities that exist at the interaction of community care and innovation.
More Information
Dr. Appel and her team welcome inquiries from individuals interested in participating in the study or exploring potential partnerships. Please contact them at: vrnrstudy@gmail.com
For additional information about Dr. Appel’s research, please visit: https://www.prescribingvr.com/
To learn more about the virtual reality platform used in this study, please visit: https://www.mycaregivr.com/
