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The Research Behind Virtual Reality in Senior Care

caregiVR is built on years of research led by Dr. Lora Appel and the PrescribingVR Lab. Through clinical studies, randomized trials, implementation research, and caregiver-focused programs, our team has explored how virtual reality can support wellbeing, engagement, behavioural care, social connection, usability, and caregiver outcomes in older adult care settings.

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Explore the research themes below to see how VR is being studied and applied in senior care, with insights relevant to administrators, care teams, and families.

Explore The Research

70% OF PARTICIPANTS SHOWED VISIBLE RELAXATION IN VR

WELL-BEING

Nature-based VR environments consistently promote relaxation, emotional calming, and reduced anxiety in dementia and older adult populations.

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VR IS SUITED FOR USE IN REAL-WORLD CARE ENVIRONMENTS

USABILITY & TOLERANCE

VR is safe, feasible, and highly tolerated across hospitals, long-term care, and home settings with minimal training required.

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VR REDUCES AGGRESSION AND AGITATION IN ACUTE CARE

MANAGING BEHAVIOURS

Immersive VR shows measurable potential in reducing agitation and responsive behaviours, supporting calmer and safer care environments.

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VR REDUCES ISOLATION AND BUILDS CONNECTION

SOCIAL CONNECTION

Immersive VR enables shared experiences that foster storytelling, communication, and emotional bonding between older adults, caregivers, and families.

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17 OF 19 STUDIES SHOW IMPROVED EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT

DEMENTIA ENGAGEMENT

VR enhances attention, emotional responsiveness, and reminiscence in people living with dementia, supporting meaningful engagement across cognitive levels.

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89% OF CAREGIVERS WOULD RECOMMEND VR THERAPY

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

VR provides meaningful respite for caregivers while improving emotional connection and reducing perceived burden in care settings.

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Looking for More Research?

The research themes above provide a high-level overview of the evidence informing caregiVR. For those interested in the full body of work, the PrescribingVR Lab maintains a growing collection of peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, protocols, and ongoing research projects spanning virtual reality across healthcare and aging.

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Explore the complete research portfolio to learn more about the studies, methods, and findings behind these themes.

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