Can virtual reality technology deepen our understanding of dementia?

Seeing life through a different lens

Business Development Manager Jonathan Park explains how virtual reality technology can help us gain a deeper understanding of dementia. As a keen mountaineer, I recently returned from my first summit attempt of Everest. The climb is terrifying, with many dangerous obstacles to overcome. I traversed the Khumbu icefall, the Hilary step and two base camps, and 15 minutes later I placed my flag at the summit. I was both ecstatic and exhausted as I removed my Oculus Virtual Reality headset and collapsed into the safety of my comfy couch. Virtual Reality (VR) is the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment, usually viewed through a headset. Immersing ourselves in new and unfamiliar surroundings through VR is a fantastic way to feel like we are experiencing something first-hand. It can also allow us to see our surroundings through the eyes of someone else. This can be particularly insightful when it’s through the eyes of someone who doesn’t see their environment in the same way as we do. A person living with dementia, for example, may have an altered depth and field of vision, and colours and contrast can blend into each other and may contribute to confusion, anxiety and trips and falls. Imagine if, using VR, you could change your perception and understanding of the simple changes that could be made to an environment which could make it easier for people with dementia to navigate. Age Scotland’s new Virtual Reality Dementia Experience workshop is helping people to do just that using a platform created by software company VR-EP. The platform transports users into a real-life environment such as a care home, kitchen or their own house to allow them to experience a familiar

Attendees at the VR dementia experience training session

environment through the eyes of someone who might see it differently. The tool was initially developed to help architects understand how to design dementia friendly spaces. Our Age Inclusive Workplace team is delighted to offer this immersive training to organisations such as care homes, housing associations and universities as well as to carers and families of those living with dementia. The technology enables users to be more empathetic when supporting someone living with dementia. It demonstrates how more considered design choices can improve daily life. It also allows them to identify any potential challenges and implement minor changes that will be more dementia inclusive. This positive impact on design was recognised at the recent Herald and GenAnalytics Diversity Awards where our training tool won the Design for Diversity Award. The feedback from participants who have taken part has been fantastic and we’re looking forward to continuing to share the experience with many more organisations and individuals who could benefit from our VR dementia experience workshop.

Taking steps to keep the doors open

Earlier this year, we invited our community member groups to take part in a survey to identify the main challenges they are facing and find out more about their experiences over the course of the coronavirus pandemic. As groups return to the delivery of a broad range of services and activities for older people, we wanted to ensure we had a fuller understanding of the support they need to keep their doors open – and could share this with funders, local authorities, and others. The survey included questions about attendance levels, meetings and services delivered during the pandemic, current circumstances and challenges for the future. Almost 100 groups responded to the survey, which was available to complete both by paper and online. There were many positives, including the fact almost 90% of groups were currently meeting or providing activities and services. The wide range of ways groups stepped up during the crisis to continue to help support people in their communities was clear too. However, the responses also shed light on the many challenges which groups are facing and how this will impact their futures. These include rising energy bills for premises, difficulties in securing core funding, operational and transport costs, drops in the number of members or service users, and a reduction in the number of volunteers and committee members.

Enjoying meeting face to face again | Men’s Sheds carried out valuable community work

As each group’s circumstances are different, the overall picture was of a wide mix of concerns and priorities. Respondents also told us in their own words what they think are the benefits of attending older people’s groups for local people and their communities – including tackling loneliness and isolation, helping people to remain active, educational activities and learning, improving mental health, help for people living with dementia and unpaid carers and access to information and signposting. While the rich insights captured in this survey are likely to be familiar to those involved with older people’s groups, combined with the rest of the report we hope they will underline the importance of older people’s community groups and how we must help them with the challenges they are facing. We plan to share our report and recommendations with local authorities, funders, the Scottish Government, politicians and others.

Read the full report at www.age.scot/reports. Find out more about becoming an Age Scotland member at www.age.scot/membership

UN recognises contribution of older women

The United Nations International Day of Older Persons is celebrated each year on 1 October. The day aims to celebrate the contributions of older people globally and raise awareness of the issues which impact their lives. This year’s theme was the resilience and contributions of older women – a theme chosen to highlight older women’s participation in society, while acknowledging the continued inequalities they face, including the double discrimination of ageism and sexism. To mark this, we have looked at some of the topics which impact the lives of older women in Scotland. Older women are a broad group, and some of these issues will have a disproportionate effect on certain groups.

Caring

Women make up the majority of unpaid carers, and around 1 in 3 women aged 55-64, and 1 in 5 aged 65-74, are thought to be carers. Many older women may even be caring for younger children and older relatives at the same time. Grandmothers also play an important role in providing care. Caring responsibilities can affect women’s participation in the labour market and contribute to pension inequality and levels of poverty.

Fair work

Older women in the workplace are often impacted by inequalities in pay and progression and would benefit from increased flexible working. Ageism in the recruitment process, skills gaps, and menopause are other workplace issues which affect older women. It is important that older women are included in workplace support measures.

Older women can live longer but in poor health

Health

While women have a longer life expectancy than men, they are predicted to live more years in poor health – women aged over 55 are more likely to have a long-term condition than not to have one.

Housing

Due to their longer life expectancy, more older women live alone meaning they can be more at risk of experiencing social isolation and loneliness – though research suggests older women feel a greater sense of involvement in their local community than younger women.

Poverty

While women tend to live longer, they earn lower pay on average and are more likely to experience interrupted careers. This contributes to the gender pension gap, which is thought to be around 38%. As a result, women make up the majority of low income pensioners and the majority of Pension Credit claimants.

To find out more about our influencing work to highlight older women’s needs visit www.age.scot/ourimpact

ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET, GO!

Age Scotland will launch its first Run Your Age challenge in January 2023.

Sponsored by SKY Cares, Age Scotland is inviting you to set your own running challenge throughout January – perfect for fulfilling those New Year’s resolutions while raising money to support older people across Scotland. You can run your age in miles, minutes, kilometres or even steps. For example, if you are nine, you could run nine minutes a day in January. Aged 30, run 30 miles over the course of the month or aged 60 and run 6km a day throughout the month. How you set this age-based running challenge is completely up to you.

Interested in taking part?

Contact the fundraising team on fundraising@agescotland.org.uk or visit age.scot/runyourage to sign up today and know that you’ll start 2023 by making a difference to older people who need us most. When the time comes, don’t forget to share your challenge online and tag @AgeScotland on social media using #RunYourAgeScotland. We can’t wait to see all your pictures! This challenge is sponsored by SKY Cares. SKY Cares have supported Age Scotland since 2019 through various activities such as providing volunteers for our friendship line and supporting our member groups small grants programme.

Sponsored by SKY

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