Virtual Reality Companion for Dementia Patients in Long‐term Care: A Feasibility Study

Abstract Background Persons with dementia (PWDs) develop progressive cognitive and physical decline which often results in placement in long‐term care (LTC). Within LTC, PWDs are at high risk for social isolation, as friends and family members may not visit often, a problem exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Method This project is developing a novel application for immersive virtual reality (VR), in which an avatar (i.e. a visual representation of a person) acts as an autonomous artificial companion for PWDs in LTC. This avatar is programmed to listen to PWDs through microphones embedded in VR goggles, and provide verbal interaction with PWDs through embedded speakers. In this way, the avatar can provide a source of conversation and socialization, available at any time, for any duration. This engagement may improve quality of life, and reduce responsive and reactive dementia behaviours. Result Our virtual companion was trialed in 10 PWD (3 men; 7 women). Most PWD found the companion to be engaging, and this invited positive reminiscence in 3 PWD. VR goggles were generally well‐tolerated, though 2 PWD closed their eyes and/or did not respond. The ability to interact verbally in a conversational manner was easier in patients with milder dementia. There was some poor performance of the speech recognition software, which impacted the flow of the conversation. Significant verbal feedback was recorded on how to improve the avatar, and how to enhance the conversation. Conclusion An autonomous artificial companion presented in virtual reality (VR) is feasible, and may benefit persons with dementia who are at risk of social isolation. Future iterations will incorporate improved speech recognition and artificial intelligence (AI)‐guided conversation generator software.