We are thrilled to announce that SilVR Adventures has been selected as a recipient of the First Round of the ARIIA Grants Program from Aged Care Centre for Growth and Translational Research. This is a significant achievement and we are honored to be in such esteemed company with the other recipients.
About ARIIA
The Aged Care Research and Industry Innovation Australia, ARIIA is a research center established with the core purpose of providing resources and assistance to the nation’s aged care workforce to deliver best practice care and support for older Australians today, and for future generations. It was created with an investment of $34 million from the Australian government, making it the first dedicated research center in the country.
The organization’s focus is on providing grants, programs, and activities to enable the adoption of knowledge and evidence and provide support for the implementation of its findings to make a real difference in aged care. It has three interconnected workstreams, each with its own focus, and aims to enable sector-wide transformation through the expertise and experience of leading researchers and industry experts.
The ARIIA’s Grants Programme consists of 6 rounds designed to support the development of the aged care workforce. SilVR Adventures was a part of the first round of recipients for the grant. This development includes training for workers and administrators to help with the adoption of technology and overall care improvements.
Our Collaboration
Our project, with support from this grant, in collaboration with Victoria’s largest for-purpose provider of disability, education, accommodation and senior services (VMCH) and one of Australia’s leading tertiary education providers (Deakin University), aims to implement an innovative virtual reality experience for people living with mild dementia in residential aged care.
Dementia and Virtual Reality
As the population ages, the number of people living with dementia is increasing, and it is becoming a significant public health concern. Dementia is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It can make it difficult for older adults to perform even the most basic tasks and can severely affect their quality of life.
One of the major downsides of older adults living with dementia is that they often become isolated and disconnected from their community. They may have trouble communicating with others, and they may lose interest in activities that they once enjoyed. This isolation can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
Virtual reality (VR) has the potential to be an innovative solution to help older adults living with mild dementia. VR allows individuals to immerse themselves in a virtual environment, where they can interact with others and engage in activities that may not be possible in the real world. This can help to reduce isolation and improve their overall quality of life.
Our VR experience will be tailored to the needs of older adults living with mild dementia and will provide them with a range of interactive and engaging activities. For example, they can visit places they have never been before, such as a tropical island, or they can participate in activities that they used to enjoy, such as dancing or gardening. The VR experience will also be designed to be accessible to older adults with limited mobility, so that they can participate in the activities regardless of their physical abilities.
Making A Change Together
We believe that our VR experience has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of older adults living with mild dementia. It is an honor to be able to work with the amazing teams at VMCH and Deakin University to deliver these improvements in areas of need. We are also grateful to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Department for Industry, Innovation and Science and Flinders University for enabling this funding to help make significant improvements in the aged care sector.
We look forward to sharing our research outcomes and how we translate them into practical, real-world solutions with efficiency and immediacy that is previously unheard of. Our goal is to make a positive impact on the lives of older adults living with mild dementia and to help them to live their lives to the fullest.
