Emerging Technologies: Exploring the health and well-being benefits of using VR with adults living in long-term care communities

关于全球人口变化及其对社会几乎每一个部门的相应影响，已经写了很多文章。虽然在统计上，我们经常将65岁以上的人（传统上被定义为“老年人”）视为一个大的类别，但必须指出，这一群体绝不是同质的;老年人是一个极其多样化的群体，具有不同的特点、行为和需求，需要研究人员和服务提供者进行具体和详细的考虑。由于65岁以上的人占加拿大人口的16.9%，了解这一群体的需求和利益的重要性怎么强调都不过分，特别是考虑到人口老龄化对卫生和社会服务部门的影响。拟议中的研究由老年人研究中心领导，该中心是一家位于谢里丹学院的应用研究机构，将探索利用新兴技术支持老年人的创新方法。具体来说，该中心的研究团队将研究如何利用虚拟现实（VR）体验和环境来提高居住在长期护理院（LTC）等集体生活设施中的70岁以上成年人的健康和福祉。我们打算发现服务提供商在将基于VR的技术整合到这些环境中时所面临的系统性障碍和促进因素，同时探索哪些类型的基于VR的体验对老年居民和客户最感兴趣，然后评估其影响。我们将通过探索这些结果对痴呆症患者和为他们提供日间计划服务的人的普遍性来扩大这项工作的影响。将VR的可能性扩展到传统娱乐目的之外，对于一般的老年人市场，特别是LTC的居民来说，具有相当大的潜力。这种伙伴关系，汇集了来自谢里丹学院和老年人研究中心，服务提供商和技术开发人员的研究人员，将导致为具有不同需求的居民创造独特的编程选项，为他们提供一种新的方式来支持他们的健康和福祉聚集生活社区。

Much has been written about the global demographic shift and its corresponding impact on nearly every sector of society. While, statistically, we often consider individuals over the age of 65 (traditionally defined "seniors") as one large category, it is important to note that this group is by no means homogenous; older adults represent an extremely diverse group with varied characteristics, behaviours and needs, requiring specific and detailed consideration from researchers and service providers. As individuals over the age of 65 represent fully 16.9% of Canada's population, the importance of understanding the needs and interests of this group cannot be overestimated, especially as one considers the impact an aging population is expected to have on the health and social service sector. The proposed research, led by the Centre for Elder Research, an applied research institute based out of Sheridan College, will explore innovative ways in which emerging technologies can be leveraged to support older adults. Specifically, the research team at the Centre will investigate how virtual reality (VR) experiences and environments can be used to enhance the health and well-being of adults 70+ residing in congregate living facilities such as long-term care homes (LTC). We intend to discover the systemic barriers and facilitators faced by service providers with respect to integrating VR-based technologies into these environments, while also exploring which types of VR-based experiences are of most interest to older residents and clients and then evaluating their impact. We will extend the impact of this work by exploring the generalizability of these outcomes to individuals living with dementia and those providing day program services to them. Expanding the VR possibilities beyond traditional entertainment purposes holds considerable potential for the older adult market in general, and for residents of LTC in particular. This partnership, bringing together researchers from Sheridan College and the Centre for Elder Research, service providers and technology developers, will result in the creation of unique programming options for residents with diverse needs, giving them a new way to support their health and well-being in congregate living communities.