When Medical & Aged Care Group (MACG) introduced SilVR Adventures at its Parkdale home in December 2024, the goal was to ensure every resident felt a deep sense of connection. The team sought to bridge the gap for those who prefer more individualised engagement, bringing the world directly to them. What the wellbeing team didn’t anticipate was how seamlessly this immersive technology would enrich daily routines and spark new social behaviours.
“The impact has been amazing,” says Beverly, Wellbeing Team Leader at Parkdale.
“Residents genuinely look forward to VR experiences, and it’s often the first step in helping them reconnect with the life of the home.”
A Gentle Pathway Out of Isolation
For some residents at Parkdale, who have gradually withdrawn from group activities due to low confidence, mobility challenges, dementia, or language barriers. VR offered something different: engagement on their own terms.
“For residents who prefer to stay in their rooms, VR can go to them,” Beverly explains. “But what’s been incredible is seeing how many then gain the confidence to come out for group sessions, not just for VR, but for other activities too.”
A bespoke in-home VR experience, co-designed with staff, allowed residents to virtually explore familiar spaces before physically re-joining them, from sitting under the courtyard umbrella to taking in bay views from the balcony. This familiarisation reduced anxiety and helped residents feel more comfortable returning to shared life.
Residents enjoying a VR session at MACG Parkdale 🌏💙
From Personal Memories to Shared Moments
VR sessions are deeply personalised, drawing on residents’ life stories, cultures, and interests. Some revisit childhood neighbourhoods, wedding locations, or meaningful destinations using Google Earth. Others choose adventure, from rides and attractions to themed experiences such as Halloween and festive celebrations.
“These experiences spark conversation, storytelling, and connection,” Beverly says. “Sometimes it’s emotional, but it’s always meaningful.”
Feedback from Resident Lizzy at MACG Parkdale
1,000+ Hours of Meaningful Engagement
Over the past 12 months, Beverly and the Parkdale team have delivered more than 1,000 hours of VR, with consistently strong feedback and engagement. Across post-session surveys, 70% of participants rated the experience ‘Very Good’ or ‘Exceptional’, and staff have observed that VR can support calm, emotional regulation and positive mood in a non-pharmacological way.
For MACG, the value has been clear: VR is not simply tolerated as an activity, it’s increasingly something residents look forward to and advocate for.
More Than an Activity – A Tool for Belonging
At Parkdale, VR has become more than a lifestyle inclusion. It is now embedded within the wellbeing framework as a practical, person-centred tool that supports confidence, inclusion and community connection.
“The difference compared to watching TV or looking at photos is that it feels like you’re actually there,” Beverly says. “You can see residents come to life.”
VR has proved transformative at MACG 💙🥽
Scaling Across MACG, With International Recognition
Following the success of Parkdale, SilVR has now expanded across all MACG homes, supporting teams to deliver consistent, meaningful experiences at scale.
That momentum has also been recognised nationally and internationally, with MACG’s VR program now nominated across four award categories (1x Future of Ageing 2025, and 3x Ageing Asia Eldercare Innovation Awards 2026) reflecting their commitment to innovative wellbeing and engagement for people living with dementia.
What’s Next: Bringing More Consistency and Measurement
MACG will also be among the first organisations to access SilVR Pathways, our new AI-powered platform designed to make VR programs even more personalised, consistent and measurable across teams and sites through guided session plans, engagement tracking and stronger reporting. For larger providers, it’s a major step forward in making impact easier to deliver and demonstrate.
Backed by Peer-Reviewed Research
SilVR is also proud to be among the first VR solutions in ANZ/APAC supported by outcome-based, peer-reviewed research (Springer), showing 92.9% of previously inactive residents moved during VR sessions, 83.6% of socially inactive residents engaged in conversation afterwards, and clear improvements in mood with reduced agitation.
