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Rooted in Real Experience

caregiVR is the result of nearly a decade of clinical research and user-engagement.

Unlike many products, our approach is shaped by those who matter most—individuals with lived experience, their care teams, and loved ones. Every decision we make is guided by their insights and needs.

Explore the Research

Click on a study below to view the peer-reviewed article or abstract.

Articles

A caregiver and senior trying out a paired headset and tablet to navigate virtual reality

Navigating Immersion: Usability Study of a Virtual Reality Application Designed for Older Adults with Dementia and Their Caregivers

A growing number of therapeutic virtual reality (VR) applications are targeted at older adults, but few are evidence-based and designed together with end-users, thus limiting the adoption of this potentially game-changing technology. There is also little research exploring VR applications developed for dyadic use between older adults and their caregivers, who are commonly a part of the safe and optimal experience.

Apr 11

VRCT: Evaluating the Impact of Virtual Reality on the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Quality of Life of Inpatients With Dementia in Acute Care: Randomized Controlled Trial

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of VR therapy on managing BPSDs, falls, length of stay, and QoL in inpatients with dementia admitted to an acute care hospital. The secondary aim was to evaluate the intervention’s feasibility in terms of acceptability, safety, and patient experience.

Jan 30, 2024

A research coordinator showing a senior couple how to use VR

VRx@Home Pilot: Can Virtual Reality Therapy Improve Quality of Life for People with Dementia Living at Home?

This paper describes results from the VRx@Home Pilot study, which is among the first to explore the potential benefits of immersive VR experiences delivered through a head-mounted display when compared to a standard two-dimensional display (handheld tablet).

Oct 4, 2023

VRCHIVE: Experiences conducting an online workshop teaching intergenerational participants to create virtual reality films about their lives during the COVID pandemic.

The VRCHIVE workshop was a first-of-its-kind exploratory pilot initiative to examine the feasibility of running a remote, intergenerational Virtual Reality (VR) storytelling workshop through the Toronto Public Library.

Feb 21, 2022

Virtual Reality for Veteran Relaxation (VR2) – Evaluating VR as Therapy to Manage Responsive Behaviours in Veterans Living in Long-term Care.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of introducing VR therapy in a veterans' long-term care health center, with the main goal of reducing responsive behaviors for veterans living with dementia, including responsive behaviors related to experiencing physical and emotional pain.

Feb 10, 2022

Man at conference trying Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality to Promote Wellbeing in Persons with Dementia: A Scoping Review

VR technologies have increasingly been considered potentially valuable tools in dementia-related research and care.

Dec 21, 2021

Man watching senior in wheelchair trying virtual reality

Virtual Reality for Veteran Relaxation (VR 2)-Introducing VR-therapy for Veterans with Dementia-Challenges and Rewards of the Therapists Behind the Scenes

Virtual Reality (VR) has shown great promise in relieving stress and improving quality of life in frail older adults and has been increasingly explored as a non-pharmacological therapy for people with dementia.

Sep 1, 2021

VRCT Pilot: Administering Virtual Reality Therapy to Manage Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Dementia Admitted to an Acute Care Hospital: Results of a Pilot Study

Clinicians are increasingly eager to try VR therapy as a novel means to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, which are exacerbated during acute care hospitalization, with the goal of reducing the use of antipsychotics, sedatives, and physical restraints associated with negative adverse effects, increased length of stay, and caregiver burden.

Mar 2, 2021

Patient in acute care hospital using VR headset

VRCT Pilot: Introducing virtual reality therapy for inpatients with dementia admitted to an acute care hospital: learnings from a pilot to pave the way to a randomized controlled trial.

As virtual reality (VR) technology becomes increasingly accessible and affordable, there is growing interest among clinicians to evaluate VR therapy in hospitalized patients, as an alternative to administering antipsychotics/sedatives or using physical restraints associated with negative side effects.

Oct 31, 2020

Dr. Lora Appel watching as older woman tries on a VR headset

Frail older adults can benefit from immersive Virtual Reality experiences: A feasibility study.

VR-therapy may prove to be a safe, inexpensive, non-pharmacological means of managing depressive symptoms and providing engagement and enjoyment to this rapidly growing demographic.

Jan 20, 2020

Abstracts

Appel, L., Appel, E., Lewis, S., and Kisonas, E. (2021).

The development of ObsRVR:

an Observational Instrument to measure Reactions of People with Dementia Experiencing Virtual Reality.

Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease,

8(S1):S139-S140.

Appel, L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Rosenberg, J., and Smith, C. (2020).

Administering Virtual Reality Therapy to Manage Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Patients with Dementia Admitted to an Acute-care Hospital: Results of a Pilot Study.

13th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) November 4-7.

Journal of Preventative Alzheimer’s Disease,

7(S1):S55-S119.

Chen, B., Appel, L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Rosenberg, J., and Smith, C. (2020).

Predicting Response to Virtual Reality Therapy for Treatment of BPSD in Acute-care Settings.

13th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) November 4-7.

Journal of Preventative Alzheimer’s Disease,

7(S1):S55-S119.

Appel, L., Narang, T., Ali, S., Wiseman, M., Ein, E., Orchanian-Cheff, A., and Campos, J. (2020)

Exploring evaluation methods of Virtual Reality interventions for individuals living with Dementia: a scoping review.

10th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD) Québec City, October 3, 2019.

Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 23(1), 4-87

Appel, L., Appel, E., Lewis, S., Kisonas, E., Appel, J., and Smith, C. (2021).

VRCT: Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating the Impact of Virtual Reality-therapy on BPSD and QoL of Acute Care In-patients With Dementia.

Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease,

8(S1):S158

Appel, L., Kisonas, E., Appel, E., Rosenberg, J., and Smith, C. (2020).

Virtual Reality therapy for inpatients with dementia admitted to an acute-care hospital: Learnings from a pilot to pave the way to a randomized controlled trial.

13th Clinical Trials on Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) November 4-7.

Journal of Preventative Alzheimer’s Disease,

7(S1):S55-S119.

Appel, L., Ali, S., Narang, T., Wiseman, M., Ein, E., Orchanian-Cheff, A., and Campos, J. (2020).

Exploring technological characteristics of Virtual Reality interventions for individuals living with Dementia: a scoping review.

10th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD) Québec City, October 3, 2019.

Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 23(1), 4-87

Appel, L., Bogler, O., Appel, E., Wiseman, M., Cohen, L., Hill, D., Ein, N., Abrams, H., and Campos, J. (2018).

Prescribing Virtual Reality (VRx): Can exposure to simulated natural environments using Virtual Reality (VR) offer an alternative therapy for those living with dementia/ cognitive impairment who are limited from being outside?

9th Canadian Conference on Dementia (CCD) Toronto, November 2017.

Canadian Geriatrics Journal, 21(1), 71-133

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Articles

Navigating Immersion: Usability Study of a Virtual Reality Application Designed for Older Adults with Dementia and Their Caregivers

VRCT: Evaluating the Impact of Virtual Reality on the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Quality of Life of Inpatients With Dementia in Acute Care: Randomized Controlled Trial

VRx@Home Pilot: Can Virtual Reality Therapy Improve Quality of Life for People with Dementia Living at Home?

VRCHIVE: Experiences conducting an online workshop teaching intergenerational participants to create virtual reality films about their lives during the COVID pandemic.

Virtual Reality for Veteran Relaxation (VR2) – Evaluating VR as Therapy to Manage Responsive Behaviours in Veterans Living in Long-term Care.

Virtual Reality to Promote Wellbeing in Persons with Dementia: A Scoping Review

Virtual Reality for Veteran Relaxation (VR 2)-Introducing VR-therapy for Veterans with Dementia-Challenges and Rewards of the Therapists Behind the Scenes

VRCT Pilot: Administering Virtual Reality Therapy to Manage Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Patients With Dementia Admitted to an Acute Care Hospital: Results of a Pilot Study

VRCT Pilot: Introducing virtual reality therapy for inpatients with dementia admitted to an acute care hospital: learnings from a pilot to pave the way to a randomized controlled trial.

Frail older adults can benefit from immersive Virtual Reality experiences: A feasibility study.

Abstracts

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