Discover how virtual reality enhances senior care by enabling improved training, scalability, and patient wellbeing.
Virtual reality (VR) is revolutionizing the healthcare sector. It allows for the practice of intricate procedures without any risk and the exploration of innovative treatment methods for patients, showcasing its vast and transformative applications. The field of senior care is also benefiting, as new VR technologies are starting to become widely adopted by elderly care providers.
To gain a deeper understanding of the role of VR in aged care, we have examined several ways it is already enhancing training, safety, and the wellbeing of seniors.
Enhancing communication and empathy
Effective communication and empathy are essential in aged care environments, and VR can be employed to enhance both.
Studies indicate that VR training boosts the emotional empathy of participants. In the context of aged care, this has significant implications for assisting caregivers in comprehending situations from the perspective of the patient. Care providers can leverage this to promote compassion and understanding among staff, thereby nurturing a more patient-centered approach to care.
Tim Brickle, who serves as the CEO of the VR healthcare training company 3D Walkabout, articulates, “Utilizing VR, we can facilitate extraordinarily realistic firsthand experiences. Users can perceive what it is like to experience hearing loss or restricted mobility, for example, with our simulations enabling them to not merely read about health issues but to truly feel the struggles that patients encounter.”
This understanding provides caregivers with a deeper insight into what their patients require from them. It may also assist in the development of superior solutions to health issues, stimulating innovation in aged care to achieve better patient outcomes.
Simulate stressful scenarios
Through virtual reality training, caregivers can navigate various procedures and situations in a safe environment. From managing falls and accidents to administering intravenous drips, they gain familiarity with routine tasks through practical experience.
This approach transcends traditional textbook learning. Their training becomes exceptionally realistic and hands-on, guiding them through high-pressure scenarios repeatedly until they are prepared for real-life challenges. This is likely to assist them in maintaining composure, responding swiftly, and minimizing errors, ultimately enhancing the quality of patient care.
Upskill staff quickly to prevent shortages
In the coming years, Australia is projected to face a deficit of approximately 110,000 aged care workers, significantly impacting the wellbeing of both patients and caregivers. Virtual reality is already being recognized as a potential remedy to alleviate these adverse effects.
Virtual reality for senior care enables providers to train new employees swiftly, without the need for in-person trainers or physical resources. Simulations can encompass everything from daily care tasks to emergencies, allowing workers to acquire essential skills in a fraction of the time.
In addition to onboarding new caregivers, this can be used to rapidly enhance the skills of current team members for new positions. While it may not serve as a long-term fix for widespread shortages, it will certainly assist in the short term.
Facilitate scalable training approaches
With the rise of the ageing population, many care providers will be compelled to increase their capacity. In some situations, they will need to hire additional staff and quickly modify their facilities, requiring processes (including training protocols) that can scale efficiently.
Virtual Reality streamlines this process. Through standardized programs, new employees can engage in comprehensive training independently. The necessity for mentors and professional oversight is reduced, and evaluations during simulations can measure skills. This can also be executed remotely, minimizing travel and facility costs for care providers.
What is the outcome? Aged care facilities can maintain uniformity across multiple sites, lessen the burden on senior staff, and onboard a larger workforce without the need for significant financial investments. It is a future-proof solution for a sector that urgently needs flexible growth strategies.
Improve patient care
In addition to training, Virtual Reality has the potential to directly provide care to patients. From treatments for dementia to surgical procedures, using a headset to immerse seniors in calming, pleasant environments could be transformative for their wellbeing.
VR for older adults has already been proven to reduce pain perception and assist with anxiety, and it may even expedite healing in certain cases.
By keeping patients calm during stressful situations, the need for staff involvement is diminished. Caregivers can focus on monitoring medication and cleaning equipment, for instance, to create a safer and more efficient care environment.
Final reflections
There is no question that Virtual Reality is transformative for the aged care industry. From simulating scenarios that enhance employee empathy to providing rapid, scalable training programs, its benefits are far-reaching.