'the room where it happens': An exploration of personalised virtual reality (VR)-bringing the home to the hospice during the covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background: Virtual Reality (VR) provides a way to transport someone to a different place and time. Harlington Hospice has explored using VR with inpatients, including the oldest old. It has taken patients back to the street where they grew up or to visit tropical places on their bucket list. These experiences have been uplifting and the feedback has provoked further exploration of the use of VR during the pandemic. Goals The primary goal is to provide personalised VR content to inpatients. COVID-19 has meant that patients, even in a hospice, have had to endure visiting restrictions - the antithesis of palliative care and often heartbreaking. The use of VR cannot replace a loved one sitting at the bedside, but the VR experience might provide spiritual comfort. A secondary goal is to provide family with a means to stay connected with the patient. Empowering people to attend virtually may reduce guilt and grief caused by separation. Design and Proposal A 360 (GoPro) camera is provided to family or friends of inpatients. They take the camera home and the recorded content of home life is then played in VR to the patient, immersing the patient back into family life. This is very different from just watching a video. Family and friends can tell stories and say their goodbyes, and the patient will feel fully part of the conversation when they use the headset. Discussion: After publishing 'How Virtual Reality helped Pam (aged 86) travel to the Galapagos Islands!' in the Hospice newsletter, 2 VR headsets have been donated plus a grant to buy the GoPro camera. Policies covering data collection, consent, confidentiality and headset care are in place. Written instructions are provided with the camera and a number for phone assistance. Once the personalised VR content has been created, it is transferred onto the VR headset. Qualitative experience and impact themes will be collected. We are not aware of VR being used in this way by any other provider.