The role of virtual reality in care settings: insights from people with dementia, care staff, and its adoption

Given the increasing number of people with dementia in recent years, there is an emerging need to develop and implement non-pharmacological interventions to promote, support, and enhance the quality of life (QoL) of this population, particularly among those residing in care homes. Although Virtual Reality (VR) technology has emerged as a promising tool for providing meaningful and enjoyable experiences for people with dementia, its appropriate integration and adoption in dementia care settings are rarely discussed. In this research thesis, a three-phase study was conducted to investigate how VR can be successfully deployed in multifaceted care settings to support dementia care. The first phase evaluated and identified key challenges and opportunities associated with VR in care settings via focus groups and discussion rounds with healthcare professionals and family members, laying the foundational framework for subsequent studies. The second phase investigated the complexities of VR design for dementia care settings, incorporating stakeholders' perspectives, including people with dementia, family members, care staff, and managers. The third phase investigated the comprehensive integration of VR to evaluate its efficacy in care settings and assess associated implications, with sessions led by care staff for practical deployment. Phases two and three are interrelated, so the findings were organised based on key stakeholders' categories. As such, the findings revealed that VR positively impacted people with dementia, enhancing interaction, emotional well-being, and communication with family members. For care staff, VR improved rapport with people with dementia, fostered a positive work environment and increased awareness of the capabilities of people with dementia. The findings highlighted key factors 6 influencing VR adoption, including technology acceptance, engagement and the role of managers and care staff in facilitating successful implementation. The findings from this thesis extend our practical insights into the effective implementation of VR in dementia care settings, providing guidance for creating VR experiences tailored to the needs of people with dementia.