VR was first invented in 1968 by computer scientist Ivan Sutherland and his student Bob Sproull. However, it wasn’t until 2010, with the launch of the PC-connected Oculus Rift prototype, that it really took off as a commercially-viable idea.

Since then, use of the technology has spread far and wide, including in one potentially unexpected cohort – the elderly.

VR is widely used in healthcare, allowing surgeons to safely practice surgery for example, and it also has a number of benefits for the older generation.

Stroke rehabilitation

The risk of stroke increases as we age, with around three quarters happening in people over the age of 65.

There are 1.2 million stroke survivors in the UK and up to 40 per cent of them suffer a debilitating disorder called ‘hemispatial neglect’, which leaves them unaware of things located on one side of their body, greatly reducing their ability to live independently.

In 2020, researchers at the University of East Anglia explored the use of virtual reality rehabilitation for stroke survivors, creating a gaming platform to improve the lives of stroke patients suffering from the complex neurological syndrome.

Meanwhile, AiBle is a three-year cross-border project between the UK and France to look at ways to improve the recovery experience of stroke patients, has had great success in developing an upper-limb rehabilitation exoskeleton robot based on AI and cloud computing.

It has worked on developing a new generation of exoskeleton that can provide advanced functionality, enabling remote but active rehabilitation by integrating artificial intelligence, cloud computing and virtual reality.

Tackling loneliness

Older people can be particularly vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation, which can have a serious effect on both physical and mental health.

In fact, it is thought to be equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day and can worsen existing health problems, such as lung disease, heart disease, and diabetes.

And while, thanks to social media and video calls, keeping in touch has never been easier, it’s still very much a one-dimensional solution.

Now, VR is being used to keep seniors connected and engaged, using the technology to help. Over the course of the pandemic, when care home residents were confined to their rooms, staff used VR in a range of inventive ways.

From allowing users to travel the world, revisit their past or simply interact with their neighbours in other rooms, virtual reality brought patients together, with carers reporting positive impacts.

Chronic pain

As much as 50 per cent of the UK population are living with chronic pain, which is another condition that increases with age.

Earlier this year, a team from the University of East Anglia launched a study into whether new technology delivered through a VR headset could help ease sufferers’ symptoms.

One element to the study will be testing a ‘Brain-Computer Interface’, where users will be taught to control elements of the VR game using only the power of their mind.

The technology works as VR floods the brain with a multitude of audiovisual signals, engaging the senses and diverting the brain’s attention from processing pain signals.

Keeping in touch

During the pandemic, many elderly people were kept apart from their loved ones, for their own health. And even before Covid-19 struck, the way we live now means families are more disconnected and spread out than ever before.

While phone calls and emails play their part, many older people, who may have hearing or sight issues, can find them difficult to use.

That was the thinking behind The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Alcove app, which uses VR to recreate the experience of having the whole family together.

The idea is to help people stay connected and enjoy new experiences together, regardless of any budget, time, age, or mobility constraints.

Easing hospital anxiety

Waiting for surgery can be an anxious time for anyone, young or old. And with elderly people potentially having more pre-existing health conditions, the worry can be exacerbated.

In a recent pilot study, patients undergoing surgery at St George’s Hospital in London had the option to use a VR headset prior to and during their operation to view calming landscapes during the procedure.

All of the participants reported that their overall hospital experience was improved by wearing the headset, while 94 per cent said they felt more relaxed during their time in hospital.

Even more encouragingly, 80 per cent said they felt less pain after wearing the headset and 73 per cent reported feeling less anxious.

More empathy

It can be hard for relatives, carers and even doctors to truly empathise with the experience of being older.

A study at the University of New England aimed to combat this, using VR headsets to recreate the experience of being elderly, offering users a patient perspective of age-related conditions such as macular degeneration and high-frequency hearing loss.

The results found that the technology had a positive impact on students’ understanding of age-related health problems and increased their empathy for those with vision and hearing loss or Alzheimer’s disease.