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Broomy Hill Nursing Home is home to residents who are mainly living with dementia, many of whom experience periods of sundowning or agitation as part of their condition. Sensory and creative activities like reminiscence sessions, tactile objects and, more recently, virtual reality are just some of the ways the Wellbeing team works to ease those moments and bring genuine happiness to daily life.
When Recreo VR launched at Broomy Hill in January, Wellbeing Lead Lauren admits she wasn't convinced.
"I initially felt a little sceptical of using this type of technology in dementia care," she says, "and felt it would probably not get used enough to justify the cost." It didn't take long to change her mind. "I was happy to eat my words when I witnessed residents using it first hand and the responses they were giving."
Bringing memories to life
For residents living with dementia, VR has become a powerful bridge to the past. Many reach out to touch what they see in front of them, amazed by the realism, and the experiences often spark conversations about places they once visited and the memories tied to them.
One of the most striking moments came with a resident who was initially reluctant to try the headset at all. "We went through the list of experiences many times before choosing to visit Whitby," Lauren recalls. Once he had it on, everything changed. "He was turning his head all around to look at the sights around him. After some time, I realised the sounds coming from the headset had changed, he loved it so much he chose a new experience from the menu by himself and kept watching."
Another resident, visiting a fishing hotspot in Scotland, became animated and excited after recognising the location. "This was very special because he hasn't been speaking very much recently and it was quite emotional to see him so happy." The session led naturally into a conversation about fishing, his lifelong hobby.
Part of the weekly rhythm
VR at Broomy Hill isn't a novelty used once and forgotten, it's built into the home's routine, used both as a standalone activity and within themed reminiscence groups scheduled into the weekly planner. Residents have taken coastal trips during holiday reminiscence, toured a 1950s house during homelife sessions and even visited a 1950s cinema for movie-themed reminiscence.
It sits alongside the home's existing sensory therapy and reminiscence tools, visual prompts, written information and tactile objects, adding a new dimension. "Now, with the VR, residents can immerse themselves in the experience too," Lauren explains.
Perhaps most tellingly, some residents now request VR sessions weekly of their own accord, including some who rarely engage with the home's other daily activities. "It's great that they can experience museums, animal encounters and world travel all from the comfort of their armchair."
Expanding across Ashberry
Following the results at Broomy Hill, Recreo VR is now being trialled at further Ashberry homes as part of a wider effort to understand how the technology can support residents across the group. Tracy Johnson, Resident Experience Manager, has been closely involved in gathering feedback from residents and Wellbeing teams as the trials progress.
"Seeing what VR has done for residents at Broomy Hill, we wanted to understand how it could support residents across our Ashberry Care Homes more widely. We're still early in the trials, but the feedback from residents and Wellbeing teams so far has been really encouraging."
Looking ahead
"Overall, Recreo VR has been a great addition to wellbeing at Broomy Hill," Lauren says, "and we look forward to sharing more experiences and opening conversations with our residents."
To find out more about life at Broomy Hill, or to arrange a visit, get in touch with our team today.
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