Can you imagine kayaking among icebergs and glaciers while searching for a lost emperor penguin colony in Antarctica? How about snorkeling an underwater safari park with whales, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures.  Does this sound exciting – or maybe cold and wet? What if you could experience it all without getting cold and wet, or even leaving town?

As community outreach and education manager at the Camarillo Health Care District, I had the opportunity to work with two colleagues on a new and exciting series of classes for seniors. We introduced our “Adventures in VR” last fall. And because it has been so well-received, we’ve added more classes and new adventures, including travel.

Imagine taking a hot air balloon ride over the Swiss Alps, a guided tour through the streets of London, Dubai or Tokyo on a double decker bus, or driving across the United States, seeing several major cities along the way. You can do all of that with virtual reality. Through VR, we can lower the barriers to entry and make travel a possibility again for people who don’t have the health or financial ability.

Virtual reality is an exciting technology that offers participants a full sense of “being there” through immersive headsets and software applications, and utilizes computer technology to create a simulated environment.

As fun as it is, virtual reality is also being widely used in some uncommon ways.  For example, VR has proven to help improve quality of life and a sense of well-being by reducing loneliness, addressing depression, and reducing barriers to socialization through common experiences. According to the study “Impact of Virtual Reality Experience on Older Adults’ Well Being” published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Design and Management and MIT AgeLab, “VR is believed to be beneficial to older adults due to its immersive interaction capabilities.

“Participants who used the VR system reported being less socially isolated, being less likely to show signs of depression, experiencing positive affects more frequently, and feeling better about their overall well-being.”

If you’re wondering what VR is and have never experienced it, the program starts at the required Introductory Level.  Introductory Level classes teach how to use the headset and hand controls and how to navigate the heads-up display.  After one or two classes, participants may advance to the Intermediate Level, which includes travel adventures to more than a dozen destinations, plus cooking in a virtual kitchen making ancient recipes, and visiting and learning about different cultures. There are also music concerts, brain training exercises, meditation, and an opportunity to practice Tai Chi in Central Park, a tropical destination or inside an igloo.

Positive Results 

The average age of our participants is 73 and our oldest is 93. We ask our participants to fill out a survey after their VR experience. With the goal of combatting social isolation and lifting mood, results have been positive.

• 92% agreed or strongly agreed they enjoyed the experience.
• 80% agreed or strongly agreed they enjoyed talking about their experience with others.
• 75% felt that their mood was uplifted after experiencing VR.
• 97% agreed or strongly agreed they would recommend the program to others.

As an independent, enterprise, community-based special health care district in Ventura County, the Camarillo Health Care District has a long history of innovative collaborations and is recognized as a “go-to” partner with high professional standards and expectations.

The District was formed in 1969 to provide community-based healthcare services under the statues of the State of California Health and Safety Code. Over the decades, the District’s visionary Board of Directors and staff have responded to the needs of the community and kept the District on the leading edge of community health and wellness by offering innovative programs and services. We are proud to share that we’ve been recognized within the industry as an award-winning District, and a model throughout the state and nation.

Our purpose statement is “Changing aging through innovative health and wellness services.” That speaks to the innovative, strategic and thoughtful approaches utilized by our highly skilled and dedicated staff of professionals, to effect true results in the lives of community residents.

To hear some residents talk about their VR experience with us, check out our video on YouTube.

Read an article published in the Ventura County Star about our innovative program here.  

“Adventures in VR” was also featured on Spectrum News 1 here. 

We offer VR classes several times a week here.

I teach several of the classes, “Nature Treks,” “Ocean Rift,” “Wander,” “BRINK Traveler” “Alcove,” and I am on hand for “Independent Adventures.” I hope to see you soon.

Michelle Rogers

Michelle Rogers is community outreach and education manager at the Camarillo Health Care District. She can be reached at 805-388-1952, ext. 100, or micheller@camhealth.com. The District is a member of Moving Seniors Forward.