Five Companies Using Virtual Reality to Improve the Lives of Seniors

Virtual reality (VR) technology is enhancing the lives of seniors around the world, with companies like Viarama, Mynd VR, Rendever, VR Genie, and Virtual Exercise paving the way, reports Forbes . Viarama is using HTC Vive headsets and Google Earth VR to offer seniors in nursing communities or hospices virtual travels. "We've had mountain climbers climbing mountains. We've had artists with dementia who have had to give up their life's work, and we let them draw, paint, and sculpt in VR," notes Viarama CEO Billy Agnew. Mynd VR's goal is to update and improve healthcare practices for seniors, with tools to help users deal with Alzheimer's and dementia, create meaningful experiences without leaving assisted living communities, and offer entertainment. The company uses 360-degree cameras to capture experiences on film and incorporate them into immersive environments. Rendever, meanwhile, has set up its VR platform in more than 100 senior living communities across the United States and Canada, providing over 40,000 experiences to help users revisit key locations from their past and counter social isolation. VR Genie's tools are designed to improve seniors' quality of life, partly by providing virtual "bucket list" excursions. Finally, Virtual Exercise's repertoire is designed to make exercise an immersive, exciting experience for seniors instead of a slog via VR training.