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Designing virtual natural environments for older adults in residential care facilities

Lundstedt, Rikard LU orcid ; Håkansson, Carita LU orcid ; Lõhmus, Mare and Wallergård, Mattias LU (2021) In Technology and Disability 33(4). p.305-318
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spending time in natural environments is beneficial for mental health and cognitive function. Unfortunately, many elderly citizens, who would potentially gain from these beneficial effects, have limited or no access to natural environments. Virtual reality may provide the experience of being present in a natural environment without the need of transportation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to acquire an understanding of how residents and staff at a residential care facility may use and experience different virtual natural environments, and thus aid the design of virtual natural environments. METHODS: We used qualitative method, collecting data through interviews and observations. The data was analyzed using... (More)

BACKGROUND: Spending time in natural environments is beneficial for mental health and cognitive function. Unfortunately, many elderly citizens, who would potentially gain from these beneficial effects, have limited or no access to natural environments. Virtual reality may provide the experience of being present in a natural environment without the need of transportation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to acquire an understanding of how residents and staff at a residential care facility may use and experience different virtual natural environments, and thus aid the design of virtual natural environments. METHODS: We used qualitative method, collecting data through interviews and observations. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Exposure to virtual natural environments provoked various emotional reactions, and promoted skill development and social interaction among participants. The staff perceived virtual natural environments as potentially useful for, for example, improving residents' anxiety. We identified several user interface improvements. CONCLUSIONS: The present study discusses how various aspects of virtual natural environments work in relation to the experience of a user and how this might affect wellbeing in older adults. These aspects may be valuable to consider in the design of virtual natural environments for use at residential care facilities.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Elderly care, nature, qualitative method, virtual reality, well-being
in
Technology and Disability
volume
33
issue
4
pages
14 pages
publisher
IOS Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85120374514
ISSN
1055-4181
DOI
10.3233/TAD-210344
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
95d32364-eb6c-4c08-87d6-15dd5eae5909
date added to LUP
2021-12-15 14:49:12
date last changed
2024-02-20 18:56:18
@article{95d32364-eb6c-4c08-87d6-15dd5eae5909,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Spending time in natural environments is beneficial for mental health and cognitive function. Unfortunately, many elderly citizens, who would potentially gain from these beneficial effects, have limited or no access to natural environments. Virtual reality may provide the experience of being present in a natural environment without the need of transportation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to acquire an understanding of how residents and staff at a residential care facility may use and experience different virtual natural environments, and thus aid the design of virtual natural environments. METHODS: We used qualitative method, collecting data through interviews and observations. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Exposure to virtual natural environments provoked various emotional reactions, and promoted skill development and social interaction among participants. The staff perceived virtual natural environments as potentially useful for, for example, improving residents' anxiety. We identified several user interface improvements. CONCLUSIONS: The present study discusses how various aspects of virtual natural environments work in relation to the experience of a user and how this might affect wellbeing in older adults. These aspects may be valuable to consider in the design of virtual natural environments for use at residential care facilities. </p>}},
  author       = {{Lundstedt, Rikard and Håkansson, Carita and Lõhmus, Mare and Wallergård, Mattias}},
  issn         = {{1055-4181}},
  keywords     = {{Elderly care; nature; qualitative method; virtual reality; well-being}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{305--318}},
  publisher    = {{IOS Press}},
  series       = {{Technology and Disability}},
  title        = {{Designing virtual natural environments for older adults in residential care facilities}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/TAD-210344}},
  doi          = {{10.3233/TAD-210344}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}