Virtual Reality Therapy in Long Term Care Resident Older Adults With Dementia: A Case Series
Abstract BACKGROUND: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) worsens as dementia progresses, intensifies caregiver distress and consequent institutionalization. We wanted to evaluate 1) feasibility of Virtual Reality (VR) as cognitive stimulation therapy for BPSD in a Long-Term Care (LTC) home, 2) participants’ tolerance for the therapy, 3) facilitators and barriers to implementing VR therapy, 4) sensitivity to change of the participants’ BPSD to VR therapy, and 5) longitudinal construct validity of BPSD measuring tools. METHODS: A single site (Henley Place at London, Ontario) case series with a convenience sample (24 older adult residents with moderate to severe dementia). Intervention was 30 minutes of VR therapy with Broomx©, five days a week for two weeks. The change in BPSD was measured with Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) scale, Dementia Observation System (DOS) scale, and proportion of night-time sleep. We validated selected tools with Global Rating of Change (GRC) scale. RESULTS: Implementing VR therapy was possible at Henley Place (recruitment rate=40%, the adherence rate=21%, and the attrition=0%) and participants could tolerate it. No emergency transfers or one-to-one staff use were recorded during the intervention period. CONCLUSION: VR therapy can be implemented in a LTC home. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was not registered as clinical trial. We obtained ethics approval from ADVARRA Canada Ethics Board before recruiting participants for the study.