How Virtual Reality Benefits the Aged?

Credit: thestar.com |  Maria Hertwig in VIVE

We always hear this expression, "Better late than never!". Well, this true to Maria Hertwig, a 93-year-old resident of the St Maternus seniors’ home in Cologne. The virtual reality glasses she’s wearing allow her gaze to wander around the digitally created environment, from the fairytale castle to the green meadows of southern Germany's Allgaeu region.

Credits to St Maternus for using new digital technologies to make their way into everyday life.

“Virtual reality offers the opportunity to expand the horizons of experience. That can be important if you are no longer capable of going out,”
“We also know that the course of dementia can be positively influenced by mental challenges."
 "In principle, however, the use of such electronic media can be viewed positively because it can increase the possibilities of compensating for physical or psychological limitations,”
- Uwe Kleinemas (Old Age Researher)

Imagine this, your in the dawn of your life. You wanted to know more but not able, thanks to aging. Then here comes Virtual Reality, downloaded a Google Earth VR and roam in the street of Paris like a child. Not bad!

"Virtual reality glasses alone can't do the job,"
- Herbert Mauel (Director of  Federal Association of Private Providers of Social Services)

Their are some promising gadgets that have been developed for attention and mobility that could be added. Who knows when but this is definitely a good start.