Nature Rx Virtual Reality
This project employs a virtual reality forest bathing intervention to mitigate the mental health challenges experienced by homebound older adults.
Homebound older adults in the United States face a heightened risk of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. While nature-based therapies, such as forest bathing, have demonstrated positive effects on mental health, physical limitations and transportation barriers often prevent homebound individuals from accessing natural environments. This study seeks to address these challenges by utilizing virtual reality (VR) technology. VR offers a simulated natural environment that can be accessed from the comfort of home, providing a safe and accessible alternative to traditional nature-based therapies. Building upon previous research on nature-based interventions for older adults (Nature Rx), we aim to develop and evaluate a VR-based forest bathing intervention specifically tailored to the needs of homebound older individuals. By leveraging the immersive and interactive capabilities of VR, this project seeks to replicate the therapeutic benefits of forest bathing while overcoming the mobility limitations of homebound older adults.
This research is funded by the University of Utah VPR Office.