Rendever Introduces Virtual Reality Dementia Simulation, Empathy Training for Caregivers

BOSTON—Rendever, a provider of virtual reality solutions for aging seniors and hospice care, has launched a dementia and empathy training program for senior living professionals and caregivers. The interactive training program includes a suite of virtual reality (VR)-based paradigms that Rendever said are designed to empower individuals to understand, support and improve their approach to dementia care.

“By stepping into the shoes of someone with dementia, caregivers can see through their eyes, hear what they hear and feel what they might feel,” the company said in a released statement. “The empathetic approach to dementia training contributes to more compassionate, responsive caregiving practices built through a firsthand perception.

The VR-based training paradigm includes interactive scenarios, real-time guidance from an artificial intelligence companion named Nova and a symptom library that explores perceptual shifts, hallucinations, black holes and other lived experiences common with dementia. Nova personalizes the empathy-building process, enabling caregivers to gain emotional insights from their virtual experiences. The company said it plans to incorporate the tool into staff onboarding programs.

In a recent study examining the effects of VR on older adults with dementia and their family members, participants experienced significant improvements in stress levels and overall quality of life after three weekly VR sessions. Family members also reported a decrease in symptoms of depression and burnout. 

“Empathy is much more than a buzzword; it’s fundamental to care,” said Kyle Rand, co-founder and CEO of Rendever. “This new dementia and empathy training program gives teams an accessible, hands-on experience to understand the symptomology of dementia and provide better care centered on empathy. Based on early industry feedback, we are excited to see this deployed for staff, families and broader community outreach efforts in a way that will help society better understand dementia.”

Caregivers can deploy the program in various ways: as part of onboarding and training courses, skill refreshment or deep empathy workshops. 

“Families can now walk into a local community and have a unique opportunity to understand the challenges their loved ones face,” said Rand. “This immersive experience opens a window into the world of their loved ones living with dementia.”