Virtual Reality Music in Geriatric Inpatients

Virtual Reality Based Music Intervention in an Acute Geriatric Setting

Older adults, especially those in acute care require accessible non-pharmacological interventions, such as music to improve their mental health. Immersive 360 virtual reality (VR), is an innovative technology that has been found to be feasible, safe, and enjoyable by older adults. However, VR based music intervention to improve older adults' mental health has not been studied in acute in-patient settings.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age of 60 years or older;
• Medical stability to participate in the trial as determined by treating physician (defined as stable vital signs, absence of new medical events and deteriorating signs),
• Admitted to the GAU (5 north) at St. Mary's hospital.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Medical instability which limits ability to participate in the study (unstable vital signs, delirium, new medical events, deteriorating signs),
• Unablility to communicate in English or French,
• Behavioural issues/delirium that limit participation in the study,
• Those who have very severe dementia (using the Reisberg stage 7 which is defined by very limited communication ability, and dependence for all self-care
• Those without sufficient auditory acuity to undergo assessment and participate in the intervention, which affects their ability to communicate their consent for this study and to listen to music
• Ophthalmological conditions which affects their ability to participate in the immersive VR (recent eye surgery, severe macular degeneration, severe glaucoma, epilepsy and seizures, etc.).