Virtual Reality May Reduce Responsive Behaviors in Dementia
What is it about?
People with advanced dementia often exhibit responsive behaviors such as apathy, depression, agitation, aggression, and psychosis. Non-pharmacological approaches (e.g., listening to music, watching television, doing arts and crafts) are now considered as a first-line strategy to manage responsive behaviors in clinical practice due to the potential risks associated with the antipsychotic medications. To date, no evaluations of immersive non-head mounted virtual reality (VR) experience as a non-pharmacologic approach for people with advanced dementia living in nursing homes have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility (acceptance and safety) of VR experience.
Why is it important?
Premature dissemination of non-pharmacologic interventions exposes vulnerable older adults with dementia to the potential risks of ineffective therapies and exposes a health care system limited by constrained resources to potentially wasteful expenditures. These considerations highlight the importance of a carefully designed study.