Feasibility and Usability of an Occupation-Based Immersive Virtual Reality Protocol for Older Adults

• Published in: Journal of ageing and longevity 2024-09, Vol.4 (3), p.274-289
• Main Authors: Benham, Sara, Cruz, Alexis, Oliva, Ashley, Osol, Franz, Strona, Elizabeth, Kolakowsky-Hayner, Stephanie, Potter, Ann Marie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: occupational engagement; older adults; virtual reality
• ISSN: 2673-9259; 2673-9259
• DOI: 10.3390/jal4030020

The growing population of aging adults, coupled with the widespread adoption of technology, including within virtual environments, prompts the need to understand technology engagement preferences among older adults. This study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of older adults engaging with a client-centered immersive virtual reality (IVR) protocol tailored to their specific occupational interests. Employing a mixed methods approach, the research combined the quantitative System Usability Scale (SUS) assessment with qualitative interviews to examine the feasibility, usability, and learning experiences of community-dwelling older adults. Fifteen (n = 15) older adult participants trialed an IVR session tailored to match their chosen occupations of importance. Findings revealed that the usability of IVR varied significantly among participants, with an average SUS score of 55, indicating a need for further investigation into usability issues. Qualitative analysis identified three themes: IVR is usable when it is intuitive and with training, balance the apps for success, and overall lasting impressions were related to the perceived implementation for the participant. The incorporation of meaningful occupations in IVR programming is feasible and can be integrated into healthy aging-in-place programming; however, expanding available leisure-based apps and increasing the learning time before engagement should be considered.