Supporting Person-Centred Dementia Care Through Reverie VR

Person-centred care lies at the heart of effective dementia support. As a professional carer, your ability to understand each resident’s unique history, personality, and needs is vital to creating meaningful, compassionate care experiences. Yet, in the day-to-day demands of dementia care, it can be challenging to deliver this approach consistently. That’s where tools like Reverie VR come in—offering gentle, immersive experiences that help you connect more deeply with each individual and deliver person-centred care with confidence and ease.

What is Person-Centred Care?

Person-centred care is about seeing the person first—not just their diagnosis. It involves respecting their past, acknowledging their preferences, and tailoring support to maintain their dignity, independence, and emotional wellbeing. This approach has been shown to improve quality of life, reduce behavioural symptoms, and enhance relationships between residents and carers.

Reverie VR: A Tool for Truly Personalised Experiences

Reverie VR provides immersive 360-degree video experiences carefully designed for individuals living with dementia. These include calming nature walks, seaside views, or familiar settings that can be selected based on the resident’s personal history or emotional needs. Whether it’s a Scottish glen, a quiet churchyard, or a seaside pier from their youth, Reverie VR helps you offer each resident a moment that truly belongs to them.

How Reverie VR Enhances Person-Centred Care

Supports Individual Reminiscence

Reminiscence is a core component of person-centred care. With Reverie VR, residents can virtually revisit familiar or comforting places from their past, helping them connect with meaningful memories and encouraging communication and self-expression.

Tailors Emotional Support

Reverie VR allows you to choose scenes based on each resident’s mood and needs. For those feeling anxious or withdrawn, a tranquil forest scene can calm and centre them. For those feeling lonely, a familiar bustling high street may bring comfort and recognition. This adaptability makes VR a valuable emotional regulation tool in your daily care.

Fosters Stronger Carer-Resident Bonds

When you engage a resident in a VR session and listen to the stories it evokes, you not only support their wellbeing—you build trust and connection. These shared experiences strengthen your caregiving relationship, making your role more fulfilling and impactful.

Evidence Supporting Person-Centred Approaches Using VR

• Improved Personal Engagement:
  Research in Frontiers in Psychology demonstrated that personalised VR experiences help residents feel more emotionally engaged and reduce symptoms of agitation and depression (Manera et al., 2016 - frontiersin.org).

• Enhanced Communication and Reminiscence:
  A study published in JMIR Serious Games showed that residents exposed to VR reminiscence therapy communicated more effectively and engaged more deeply with staff and family members (Appel et al., 2020 - games.jmir.org).

• Alignment with NICE Guidelines:
  The Health Innovation Network notes that immersive technologies like VR help care homes implement the kind of personalised, non-drug therapies strongly advocated by NICE and the CQC (Health Innovation Network, 2017).

Tips for Implementing Reverie VR in a Person-Centred Way

1. Know the Resident’s Story
   Use life story work or personal background information to guide VR content selection.

2. Observe and Reflect
   Watch how residents react during VR sessions—do certain visuals spark smiles, conversation, or calm? Note these responses to tailor future sessions.

3. Build Rituals
   Make VR sessions a regular part of your care approach—something residents can look forward to that provides comfort and stimulation.

4. Encourage Dialogue
   After sessions, talk with residents about what they saw and felt. These conversations can reveal personal insights that deepen your understanding of their needs.

Benefits for Professional Carers

• Increased Confidence in delivering meaningful, personalised care

• More Rewarding Interactions with residents

• Reduced Stress from behavioural challenges

• Positive Feedback from families and managers on quality of care

Conclusion

Person-centred care is not just a goal—it’s a practice you carry out every day. With Reverie VR, you gain a powerful, gentle tool to make that practice easier, more engaging, and more effective. By connecting residents with their past, regulating their emotions, and building meaningful moments, you reaffirm their identity and your role as a compassionate, skilled caregiver.

Interested in learning more?

To learn more about how Reverie VR can transform your admissions process and improve resident outcomes, please contact our team for a personalised consultation.