Designing virtual natural environments for older adults in residential care facilities
(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
- Lundstedt, Rikard LU ; Håkansson, Carita LU ; Lõhmus, Mare and Wallergård, Mattias LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021
- 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}}, }