At Athena Care Homes, creating meaningful moments is at the heart of everything we do. Recently, residents at Alex Wood House welcomed “The Wish Room,” a transformative multisensory virtual reality (VR) experience delivered in partnership with VR Therapy – giving residents the opportunity to revisit treasured memories, explore dream destinations, and fulfil lifelong wishes.
Residents from our sister home, Langdon House, also joined the experience, travelling by minibus to Alex Wood House for an afternoon of discovery, connection, and joy. This shared event not only brought innovative wellbeing opportunities to both homes but also strengthened friendships and social connections across our wider Athena community.
Using Virtual Reality in Dementia and Elderly Care
Virtual reality is increasingly being recognised as a powerful tool in dementia care and elderly wellbeing. By combining immersive visuals, familiar sounds, and sensory prompts, VR can help residents reconnect with important memories, reduce anxiety, and create moments of happiness and emotional engagement.
During “The Wish Room,” each resident’s journey was tailored to their personal life story, interests, and aspirations.
Experiences included:
• Revisiting beloved travel destinations such as Devon, Glasgow, Venice, Rome, Spain, New Zealand, Singapore, and Malaysia
• Adventure-filled moments like swimming with dolphins, paragliding, scuba diving, walking with elephants, and flying a Spitfire
• Reliving meaningful concerts and returning to cherished places from the past
• Enjoying calming beaches, forests, and countryside escapes
A Multisensory Approach for Deeper Connection
For residents living with dementia, sensory engagement can be especially powerful. To deepen immersion, the VR experience went beyond visuals alone.
Innovative sensory elements included:
• Faux grass flooring paired with forest scenes so residents could feel grass underfoot
• Sand trays during beach experiences, allowing residents to wiggle their toes in the “sand”
• Soundscapes, visual cues, and gentle staff guidance to enhance comfort and orientation
This thoughtful approach created a safe, supportive, and emotionally rich environment where residents could fully engage.
Whole-Home Teamwork in Action
One of the most remarkable aspects of the day was Athena Care Homes’ whole-home approach. Colleagues from lifestyle, care, hospitality, and management all played an active role in supporting residents throughout the experience.
This collaborative effort reinforced Athena’s belief that meaningful engagement is everyone’s responsibility – and that exceptional care goes beyond physical support to nurture emotional wellbeing too.
Residents’ Reactions: Joy, Wonder, and Emotional Connections
The impact was immediate and unforgettable.
Peter described swimming with dolphins as exciting and joyful.
Sylvia, after exploring Costa Rica and the American Wildlands, shared:
“This is the most amazing thing I never thought I would see.”
Sue revisited Venice and warmly reflected:
“I’ve been here before – it was so lovely.”
Michael fulfilled a lifelong dream by seeing Elvis Presley live in Las Vegas, while others explored Antarctica, Iceland, New Zealand, and beyond.
Rebecca from VR Therapies captured the spirit of the day beautifully:
“Every single resident had a dream come true. We felt the grass between our toes, smelt the pine forest around us, and returned to places that only exist in memory now – until today. It was a multisensory delight. We bring the world to them and bring those memories to life.”
Innovative Care That Puts Residents First
At Athena Care Homes, experiences like this reflect our commitment to delivering innovative, person-centred care that supports mind, body, and soul.
By embracing new approaches like virtual reality therapy, we continue to create opportunities for residents to experience joy, rediscover identity, and make meaningful new memories – no matter their age or stage of life.
For families seeking compassionate, forward-thinking dementia and residential care, Athena Care Homes is proud to provide experiences that truly enrich lives.
Contact us today to learn more about the care across our seven homes.
