Care home residents across Cumbria are reliving memories through virtual reality with the help of Cumbria County Council’s Libraries Outreach Team.

Residents gather in the lounge each week, taking turns to visit Buckingham Palace, tour London, stroll down Keswick main street, watch gorillas in Rwanda or relax on the sands of a Caribbean lagoon.

The care staff have reported an increase in reminiscence, memory triggering, stimulating conversation, and a more relaxed disposition amongst residents’ post-session.

Richmond Park, Workington and The Gables, Whitehaven, were the first Cumbria Care residential homes to host the virtual reality sessions.

Cumbria Libraries Outreach Officers are continuing to involve new residents, tailoring experiences to suit individual needs.

Cllr Patricia Bell, Cumbria County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Care Services, said: “This is a heart-warming project for Cumbria Care to get involved in, and a fantastic opportunity to bring exciting technology into an environment that really felt the isolation during the pandemic.

“It is lovely to see our Cumbria Care residents going on virtual journeys and adventures that they may not now be able to experience in real life, and I'm proud to see Cumbria leading the way in this innovative approach to care.”

 

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