June 20, 2022 -- Growing old doesn’t mean staying behind with technology. White Sands La Jolla is using virtual reality to transport residents anywhere in the world.
KPBS recently visited White Sands to see virtual reality technology from Rendever in action. Residents put on virtual reality goggles and picked the experience they wanted, which could include swimming with dolphins, a hot air balloon ride over Portugal, or even a visit to their childhood neighborhood.
White Sands resident Lily Mauricio started her Thursday morning by climbing Mt. Everest — virtually. “I've always wanted to go to the base camp of Mt. Everest and my daughter did. She climbed up to 18,000 feet which is half the height,” Mauricio said. “I felt like I shared my daughter's experience … It was good.”
White Sands activity director Pat Guerrero said the technology benefits the seniors in many ways.
“We’d be able to take residents who couldn’t get out of the community on an adventure somewhere out of the community. So we’ve been using it with skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care and independent residents, and also using it for psychosocial, any kind of needs,” she said.
Read the full story and watch the interview on KPBS: https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2022/06/20/senior-community-san-diego-benefit-virtual-reality
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