A New Reality in Care: Our VR Journey Begins

At Broomy Hill Nursing Home, innovation and compassion come together in the most inspiring way. Residents at the home are stepping into a whole new world with the introduction of virtual reality headsets. It is an exciting innovation with the power to create uplifting and meaningful moments for the residents under our care.

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Opening Up New Possibilities

Virtual reality is emerging as a significant innovation in care homes. At Broomy Hill, it is certainly making a significant impact. It is not only a tool; it is a way for residents to relive memories and experience things they may no longer be physically capable of doing.

For those with dementia and complex mental health issues, virtual reality is proving to be a significant tool. It is a way for us to stimulate memories and conversations with the residents under our care. It is also a way for residents to relax with the immersive capabilities of virtual reality.

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Embracing Something New

We were thrilled at the opportunity to be a part of the Recreo VR experience. It was something new for the residents and us. However, it is not only something new; it is a learning experience for the entire staff at the home.

Our Wellbeing Lead, Lauren, is currently working on a list of available experiences that our residents can choose from to do something different each time they use the headset. This way, our residents will have something new to look forward to each time they use the headset, as new content is added every eight weeks.

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Moments of Discovery and Reminiscence

One of the new experiences that our residents will enjoy in the near future is a seated safari, where they will have the opportunity to come face to face with a rhino from the comfort of their chair.

Recently, our residents travelled through time to the 1950s, where they had a virtual visit to a traditional house, cinema, and a high street. In the house, our residents travelled from room to room, exploring the food pantry and admiring the decorations of the house. In the cinema, our residents explored the ticket office, the reel room, and the cinema itself. In the high street, our residents visited an electronics shop, a record shop, and a toy shop, enjoying the experience of each of these different stores.

Many of our residents commented on how real the experience felt, almost like stepping into a memory. Some were actually looking at their hands to get used to the virtual world. As the shops, toys, and songs from the period were brought up, the experience naturally evolved into memories and stories. The dialogue was effortless as the residents shared memories from their own lives to eachother and staff.

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Enhancing Daily Life through Innovation

Virtual reality is more than just an activity at Broomy Hill. It is another meaningful way we promote wellbeing and engagement for our residents. By using Recreo VR, we encourage conversation and reflection, while continuing to look for ways to enhance quality of life within our home.

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If you’d like to see more of life at our homes, be sure to check out our Facebook and TikTok pages for all the latest moments and updates.