As featured in an earlier blog post, Senior1Care has been using virtual reality (VR) as part of its training program for the past four years, with each caregiver receiving four hours of virtual reality training, in addition to regular curriculum.
Through this technology, caregivers at Senior1Care are granted a unique opportunity – the chance to step into the lives of the seniors they care for. This immersive experience allows them to gain invaluable insights into the daily challenges and perspectives of their elderly clients living with various medical issues such as macular degeneration, hearing loss, Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, or Alzheimer’s, or those facing a terminal diagnosis. By understanding life from the viewpoint of their clients, Senior1Care’s dedicated team aims to enhance the quality of care they provide.
During a recent visit to Senior1Care’s Fort Wayne office, WANE-TV helped tell the story of another important facet of this in-house technology. Senior1Care is taking a bold step forward by inviting healthcare professionals in the South Bend/Elkhart, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis regions to utilize their cutting-edge VR equipment. By doing so, they hope to redefine the caregiving experience, starting with their own dedicated staff and extending an invitation to other healthcare organizations serving seniors in the state.
As Senior1Care opens its doors to fellow healthcare providers, it’s clear that the power of virtual reality is being harnessed not just for entertainment, but to create a more compassionate and informed healthcare environment for the communities they serve.
The following story originally appeared on WANE 15
Reported on by Lydia Reuille, WANE 15 Wed, August 30, 2023, 11:11 AM EDT
Transcript:
When you think about virtual reality, you probably think about video games or movies. One Fort Wayne organization is using this technology to help bring empathy to caregivers.
Senior1Care on Coventry Lane will be using VR technology to experience the world through the eyes of the people they care for. The technology puts caregivers in the shoes of their clients suffering from various diseases, and they experience life how those seniors experience it. They hope the VR technology will help the staff better treat their patients.
“It just allows you to kind of pause and take time to really understand the person that you are embodying, like what they’re going through and how those around you are acting or what they’re saying about you. It’s all very interesting.” – Marissa Caroll, Heartland Hospice.
Heartland Hospice on DuPont Road also uses the technology as part of their training.
