During the 1970s, Farrell Patrick, a retired Army Colonel, was a computer science professor at West Point and later at two private universities. He has seen firsthand the advancements in technology throughout the years.

However, when the 91-year-old was introduced to virtual reality for the first time, he was amazed. He was sitting in a conference room at John Knox Village, a retirement community in suburban Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when he sat up with excitement as his senses were immersed in the experience of being in a Navy fighter jet soaring above the Florida coast.

“Wow, that’s stunning,” he exclaimed as the VR simulation smoothly landed the jet on an aircraft carrier.

John Knox Village was one of 17 senior communities around the country that participated in a recently published Stanford University study that found that large majorities of 245 participants between 65 and 103 years old enjoyed virtual reality, improving both their emotions and their interactions with staff.

This research is a component of a bigger project aimed at modifying VR to improve the health and emotional state of seniors, and reduce the effects of dementia on certain individuals.

During the testing, seniors picked from seven-minute virtual experiences such as parachuting, riding in a tank, watching stage performances, playing with puppies and kittens or visiting places like Paris or Egypt. The participants wore headsets that gave them 360-degree views and sounds, making it seem like they had been all but dropped into the actual experience.

Terry Colli, a retired public relations director at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., shared that his 2022 experience brought back memories of his travels and growing up on a farm. At 76 years old, Colli enjoyed swiveling in a chair to take in the panoramic view, which he described as “amazing.”

At the age of 79, Anne Selby, a retired counselor and artist, discovered that virtual reality had a stimulating effect on all of her senses and various areas of her brain.

She expressed that she found the articles about pets to be especially enjoyable, as she is a cat owner and has had pets for the majority of her life.

A study conducted by Stanford, in collaboration with Mynd Immersive, showed that nearly 80% of older adults experienced a boost in positivity after participating in a VR session. Additionally, 60% reported feeling less socially isolated. However, this effect was slightly diminished for seniors with impaired sight and hearing. Those who did not enjoy the VR experience were also more inclined to have a negative opinion towards technology in general.

Furthermore, nearly three-fourths of the caregivers reported that the residents’ moods were lifted after utilizing virtual reality. Over 80% of the residents and close to 95% of the caregivers expressed that discussing their virtual reality experience strengthened their bond.

According to Ryan Moore, a PhD student at Stanford who assisted with the study, most of the participants were new to virtual reality and had a positive experience. They expressed a willingness to recommend it to others and were eager to try it again.

According to Chris Brickler, CEO and co-founder of Mynd, our company is demonstrating the effectiveness of VR as a tool for improving the well-being of elderly individuals. Based in Texas, our company is among the few that focuses on virtual reality specifically for seniors. This technology offers a much more immersive experience compared to traditional forms of entertainment such as television or iPads.

Separate from the study, John Knox Village uses virtual reality in its unit that houses seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. It helps spur memories that lead to conversations with caregivers.

Hana Salem, the meaningful life coordinator at the facility, stated that it’s as if people come back to life when they share their story. She also mentioned that even those who are typically quiet become more lively after experiencing virtual reality in a natural setting.

“They’ll start laughing and saying, ‘Ooh, I’m going to catch the butterflies,’ ” Salem said. Catching butterflies is also part of a game Mynd developed that helps seniors enhance their mobility and flexibility as they stand and reach for objects.

According to Brickler, these older individuals find it more enjoyable to participate in butterfly catching and shoulder rehabilitation rather than lifting weights.

According to Brickler, his company’s technology will soon be integrated with Google Earth. This will allow seniors to virtually explore the neighborhoods they used to live in, the schools they went to, and other places they have visited. This feature will also encourage more discussions between seniors and their caregivers.

According to Brickler, virtual visits can bring back a lot of happiness and memories. When therapists or caregivers work with older adults and discuss what they observe, it can have a positive impact.

The company addressed the main issues that seniors had with VR in the study, including the weight of the headsets, the heat they produced leading to forehead sweat, and occasional nausea. The newer headsets now weigh only six ounces (189 grams) instead of a pound (454 grams), have a built-in fan for cooling, and provide smoother video experiences.

Moore stated that the discovery that individuals in their 80s and 90s have a lesser enjoyment of VR compared to those in their 70s could potentially result in adjustments being made for them, such as reducing the need for neck rotation to fully experience the scenery and increasing the size of the visuals.

At John Knox, a few independent seniors had the opportunity to try out virtual reality. One individual, Pete Audet, got to experience the sensation of flying in a wingsuit, gliding over snow-covered mountains and landing in a field.

“Oh wow, this is amazing!” Audet, a retired IT worker at the age of 76, exclaimed as he came to a stop while running. He believes that other elderly individuals would truly appreciate this activity, but they may just need some guidance on how to use it.

Karen’s attention was completely absorbed by her virtual stroll through Paris, causing her to ignore any questions directed towards her as she “played” with puppies.

“I have been in both places – there and here,” stated Karen Audet, an 82-year-old retired educator from an elementary school.

According to Farrell, a retired computer specialist from the Army, he desires to reach the age of 100 because he predicts significant advancements in virtual reality (VR) within the next five years. Despite his retirement, he remains enthusiastic about technology and anticipates a significant decrease in the cost of VR systems, making them accessible for people of all ages, even senior citizens.

“He stated that the current simplicity will not remain, and the system will become highly realistic and responsive. It may even have a connection to the brain.”