My wife and I bought our kids the new virtual reality (VR) headset from Oculus. There are a number of fun games on there, including one that is a little bit kind of like what I imagine Quidditch (of Harry Potter fame) would be like. Sure, there are some things out there that I would like to change as a parent, but with some serious discussions, monitoring it through a parent account, and open communication, I’m finally comfortable as a parent letting them play this for a little bit each day.
There’s even a fitness program on there that I use once in a while on the stationary bike. I’m currently working my way through the streets of Oslo, which was a disorienting experience at first but has helped to encourage me to workout once in a while.
When someone suffers from a stroke, there are many physical issues that can come along with it. Physical and speech therapy are two of the most common needs that can arrive after a stroke. Spatial neglect is a less common issue, but still pervasive, nonetheless.
Spatial neglect impacts about 30 percent of those that have a stroke. It involves a loss of coordination, understanding of the space around you, and even difficulty paying attention. Because it is so varied in its symptoms, it is often hard to diagnose, and even harder to treat.
Which is one of the reasons why VR has been so helpful for the treatment of stroke, especially in the senior community. Researchers found that VR can be used to help deliver a standardized, intensive, repetitive, and safe therapy that can help the brain rewire neural pathways and help to correct things like spatial neglect.
Researchers from the Kessler Foundation published their findings last year in the journal, Annals of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. This is a brand new area of study, but this research should raise a few eyebrows. It is an indicator that there are a lot of opportunities ahead of us for using VR to help those that are suffering from physical disability go through rehabilitative processes in ways that haven’t been fully realized yet. There’s still a lot more research needed here.
This might not be the right course of action for everyone, but it certainly has potential. Because of this, it might be something worth looking into for your own family. It can be expensive, but there are certainly some health benefits to it, if this helps with the decision making process. Each family has different needs and priorities. There’s always room to do what works best for you.
Don’t be afraid to reach out with questions. We’re here to bounce ideas off of. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation to look at senior care in a little more depth, we can help with that, too. Feel free to give us a call or send an email today to get the process started. One of our trained professionals would be happy to sit down with you and talk about these things in detail.
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