RESIDENTS of a care home have been using technology to step into virtual reality in order to explore new places and visit old haunts.

From the comfort of Willowdene Care Home, in Sedgefield, and with only a headset to transport them, the pensioners have been immersed in familiar and far away settings – from Durham Cathedral and Buckingham Palace to farmyards and cat cafes.

It is thanks to Gateshead-based company Reminiscience, who facilitate sessions, gather information and film, that residents with lower mobility have had the rare chance of revisiting favourite places and view locations based on their interests.

Angela Penman, activities coordinator for the care home, said: “The virtual reality reminiscence sessions have been a great success.

"We weren’t sure how residents would react to the new technology, particularly the people who have advanced dementia, but they really embraced it and thought it was amazing.

"Using the goggles is a lot of fun and we’ve even had staff and family members joining in so it’s been great for generating conversation in the home."

Wearing the headset gives a 360 degree view of a location from a point-of-view perspective and is able to track head movements.

The headset view is also displayed on a handheld tablet so that the staff and Ms Penman can chat with residents about what they are seeing.

In order to provide a tailored experience, the Reminiscience team speak to Ms Penman and residents to establish the kind of content they would like to see, whether it is places they have visited or lived, or interests such as pets and animals.

They then use this new technology to take the residents on journeys new or to help bring back old memories – for what is termed virtual reality aided reminiscence.

Ms Penman added: "Using the headset is really immersive and since the videos shown are personalised to each person then it’s so much more meaningful to them.

“It’s also been very beneficial for our residents who prefer not to participate in group activities or struggle to communicate with others.

"It’s a way for them to engage and in a way that’s meaningful for them.”

Each time the team comes to the home during the ongoing project, they will continue to ask residents what they would like to see next.

Reminscience then take these requests and transforms them into customised films for the individuals.

Resident Freda Clark, 91, said: “I really enjoyed trying the headset, it’s very clever. It was interesting to see the different places. I liked seeing the beach and the animals at Beamish museum.”

The next session will take place in December for a Christmas when the team will be equipped with films incorporating Fenwick's window, in Newcastle, Durham's Christmas market and choir of schoolchildren singing carols.