Facilitating communication between persons living with dementia and their caregivers: Results of the VRx@home pilot study

Purpose Virtual reality (VR) interventions can improve the well-being of persons living with dementia (PLwD). However, little is known about the value of VR interventions on enhancing communication between PLwD and their caregivers in an at-home setting, which was the aim of this study. We also explored whether immersive VR differs from tablet-based technology.Materials and Methods Following baseline data collection, PLwD and caregivers completed a 4-week intervention by watching 360-degree videos together, either starting with the VR or Tablet-only condition (2 weeks per device). Seven dyads participated in the study (N = 14).Results Data of the five dyads who completed the study indicated that both devices facilitated communication, though the extent varied by outcome measure. Both devices had similar influence on observed interactions and reminiscence, but VR led to a higher frequency of conversation initiations compared to the tablet.Conclusions Together, our results demonstrate the promising application of these technologies for building connections and supporting communication in PLwD and caregivers at home.