If the technology is new to you, check out how virtual reality is reshaping the way seniors can interact with their world.

What Is Virtual Reality?

Virtual reality is a 3D projection designed to make you feel that what you're seeing is real. Typically, you wear a headset that blocks your view of your surroundings. This allows you to focus entirely on the pictures or videos displayed on the screen inside the headset.

Built-in sensors detect your movements and adjust the view, which amplifies the feeling of being inside the pictures instead of simply looking at them. For example, through virtual reality you could view a beach scene and move your head to look around. The device adjusts the picture to make it seem as if you're looking down the beach, up at the sky or down at the waves.

How Can Virtual Reality Help Seniors?

Virtual reality is an open-ended experience. You can use it for education, exercise, social interaction or taking a dream trip. What you aim for is entirely up to you.

Mental Immersion

Enhancing cognitive health takes priority for many seniors. Virtual reality is a unique way to engage the mind, learn new things and potentially boost your mental health.

By using virtual reality, you can immerse yourself in educational opportunities, such as exploring a coral reef and learning about the plants and creatures living there. You could also wander through a virtual museum and view artifacts, paintings and exhibits.

Building Connections

When you use virtual reality with your friends and family, it provides an exciting shared experience you can discuss and games you can play. It doesn't require you to be in the same location, which allows you to engage with a loved one who may live in a different location than Sun City, AZ.

In fact, numerous virtual spaces exist specifically for families to hang out, such as Alcove on the Meta Console. If talking on the phone with your children and grandchildren is difficult because of circumstances or differences of opinion, virtual reality may provide a peaceful environment to work on your relationship.

Virtual World, Physical Benefits

The social benefit isn't the only appeal of virtual reality. It offers fun sports games and exercises, such as guided tai chi. The required movements of your arms and upper body can help you stay active without feeling like you're working out.

The key to personal safety while engaging in a virtual world is to remember it isn't real. Make certain you aren't in danger of falling when you stand and move. If you're playing virtual pool, for example, don't forget that the table isn't solid and you can't lean on it.

Making and Reliving Memories

Reminiscing is a beloved pastime for many seniors here at LifeStream at Sun City. You can upload special photos and view them in 3-D. This lets you revisit memories of your childhood home, wedding day or favorite vacation in a new way.

The many virtual tours available enable you to view places in the world you've always dreamed of seeing in person. Tours of areas you've visited or know well offer you the chance to see them again and dance down memory lane.

As a growing technology, virtual reality still has many issues to iron out, including costs, complicated controls and the possibility for motion sickness and disorientation. Despite these issues, virtual reality holds great potential for seniors.

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