Immersive technology to improve quality of life for the elderly
A new pilot project at day centres aims to boost active ageing with immersive technology, imitating real experiences through digital replicas. Users, aged from 70 to 90 and with cognitive deterioration, take part in sessions of between 45 and 60 minutes and combining immersive reality projections with physical exercise to get cognitive, sensory and physical stimulation.
![Quatre dones grans miren les imatges que surten del projector que tenen al darrere](https://media-edg.barcelona.cat/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/01123912/vlcsnap-2024-07-31-13h52m25s515-760x428.png)
Four elderly women watch images shown by a projector behind them
This training improves the emotional well-being of elderly people, promoting relaxing behaviour and reducing emotional distress, at the same time preserving the ties between users at the centre and their families and reinforcing positive experiences.
Users do not need to wear virtual reality goggles during the sessions, as the MK360+ immersive reality projector from the Catalan company Broomx allows any room to be transformed into a different environment by projecting images onto the walls and ceiling, creating a highly stimulating immersive visual sensation and allowing interaction with the different programmes via a mobile app. Activities consist of projecting videos that each show a significant and iconic place in Barcelona, making up a route around the city: the neighbourhood of Sant Andreu, the Sagrada Família, La Pedrera, the Palau de la Música and Park Güell. The activity also offers experiences in familiar or unknown outdoor settings, such as mountains or behind the wheel of a car.
Extensive programme to improve quality of life for elderly residents
The project is party of a broader programme designed to address the problems posed by the pandemic for elderly people, implemented in various homes and day centres for the elderly. Users can enjoy music therapy sessions with the organisation Música i Alzheimer, activities to bring the city’s museums into closer contact with residents by the organisation Apropa Cultura, dance with La Dansa s’Apropa or go out for a bike ride with the adapted bicycles of Bicis sense edat.
The various activities in the programme help to improve the quality of life of elderly residents, lifting their spirits, promoting communication, boosting interpersonal relationships, facilitating learning, movement and expression, giving them a sense of belonging and strengthening ties, as well as their connection with their surroundings. Family participation has also been introduced, fostering involvement in the dynamics of the activity and personal interaction.
![La conductora de la prova pilot parla amb les usuàries, mentre es projecta, a les parets i al seu rostre, la imatge immersiva d’una platja](https://media-edg.barcelona.cat/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/01123848/vlcsnap-2024-07-31-13h48m20s141-760x428.png)
The presenter of the pilot project talks to users while the immersive image of a beach is projected onto the walls and their faces
![Usuàries d'un centre de dia visionant una projecció immersiva durant una teràpia d'estimulació cognitiva pilot](https://media-edg.barcelona.cat/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/01123840/vlcsnap-2024-07-31-13h46m19s935-760x428.png)
Users at a day centre watching an immersive projection during a pilot therapy session for cognitive stimulation