A 15-minute VR movie showing geriatric rehabilitation from an older adult's viewpoint appears to be an effective educational tool in raising understanding and empathy among healthcare professionals in geriatric rehabilitation.
The majority of healthcare professionals reported increased awareness of older adults' experiences after viewing the VR movie.
Thematic analysis of focus groups identified three key themes reflecting how healthcare professionals perceived the rehabilitation experience when adopting the older adult's perspective.
Healthcare professionals suggested practical improvements in daily care following their VR experience.
A mixed-methods design combining structured questionnaires and focus groups was used to evaluate the VR intervention across four geriatric rehabilitation organisations.
Virtual reality was identified as an innovative educational tool with potential to foster empathy and communication skills among healthcare professionals in geriatric rehabilitation.
This research suggests that showing healthcare professionals a short virtual reality (VR) film — one that places them in the perspective of an older adult going through geriatric rehabilitation — can meaningfully increase their awareness and empathy toward patients. In the study, 160 healthcare workers from four rehabilitation facilities watched a 15-minute VR movie scripted from real patient experiences, and an additional 18 participated in focus group discussions. After watching, 85% said their awareness of what older adults go through had increased, and 95% said they would recommend the film to their colleagues. The focus group discussions revealed three recurring themes about what the healthcare professionals noticed when seeing rehabilitation 'through a patient's eyes': feeling overwhelmed by the environment and the process, feeling dependent and vulnerable, and experiencing confusion about staff routines and what to expect. These insights are significant because they highlight aspects of care that might not be obvious to professionals focused on clinical tasks, but that matter greatly to patients' day-to-day experience. Participants also came up with practical ideas for improving daily care based on what they had experienced in the VR film. This research suggests that VR technology could serve as a valuable training and education tool in healthcare settings, helping staff better understand the emotional and practical challenges faced by older patients during rehabilitation. By 'walking in the patient's shoes,' even briefly, professionals may be better equipped to communicate more clearly, reduce feelings of patient overwhelm, and deliver more person-centered care. The approach may be particularly relevant in geriatric rehabilitation, where patients often face complex physical, emotional, and social challenges.
Lubbe A, Pol M, Groen W, van den Berg J, Hertogh C, Buurman B, et al.. (2026). Experiencing geriatric rehabilitation through the older adult's eyes: a mixed methods evaluation study of a virtual reality intervention among healthcare professionals.. Age and ageing. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afag159