Abstract
Virtual Reality (VR) has been increasingly adopted in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) for enriching residents’ experience. Previous research has indicated that VR experiences can be especially valuable when they are personalized – that is, tailored to individual interests and circumstances. However, resources guiding how personalized VR experiences should be introduced in RACFs are limited. This paper reports an in-depth case study with a care assistant working across RACFs, who has significant experience in introducing personalized VR for people with dementia. The paper provides insights into vital steps in introducing personalized VR, using available information sources and the opportunities and challenges brought about by this approach for this population. Findings reveal that personalized VR should be introduced with respect and care. However, this could create tension for staff facilitating VR activities in resource-stretched aged care organizations. This paper identifies opportunities for designing systems to make personalized VR more effective in RACFs.
Recommended Citation
Thach, Kong Saoane; Lederman, Reeva; and Waycott, Jenny, "Personalizing Virtual Reality Experiences for Residents in Aged Care Homes: Lessons from a Case Study" (2023). ECIS 2023 Research Papers. 331.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2023_rp/331