Our Partnership with Barchester Healthcare
We’re proud to announce our new partnership with Barchester Healthcare, bringing virtual reality (VR) technology into care homes across the UK to enhance resident wellbeing, engagement, and connection.
Through this partnership, Barchester care homes are now using our VR headsets for care homes to deliver meaningful, person-centred experiences and the results so far have been incredibly encouraging.
Using Virtual Reality in Care Homes Across the UK
Our VR headsets are now being implemented in Barchester care homes nationwide, with teams integrating them into regular activity programmes.
At Lindum House, the Activities Coordinator shared that the headsets are used on a weekly basis, with usage increasing naturally over time as residents grow more comfortable and engaged with the technology.
This consistent use has allowed staff to tailor experiences to individual residents, ensuring that VR becomes a meaningful part of everyday care rather than a one-off activity.
How VR Helps Trigger Memory and Conversation
One of the most powerful benefits of virtual reality for elderly residents is its ability to stimulate memory and encourage storytelling.
Staff have noticed residents reminiscing about:
Their childhood and younger years
Family, relationships, and life milestones
Places they once visited and experiences they cherished
When the right VR experience is selected, it often creates a sudden “jolt” to memory, leading to conversations that continue long after the headset comes off. Residents may reminisce for extended periods, strengthening emotional connection and social interaction.
Seaside, Nature, and Animal Experiences
Local seaside trips, animal encounters, and nature experiences have been particularly popular. Many residents had visited these locations earlier in life, which made the experiences feel familiar and personal.
These sessions sparked rich conversations, shared memories, and moments of genuine joy, reinforcing how immersive experiences for care home residents can go far beyond passive entertainment.
The Impact of Music in Virtual Reality
Music-based VR experiences have also had a profound effect. Piano and harp performances were especially well received, with several residents describing the experience as feeling like a live performance created just for them.
One gentleman, after watching an overseas travel experience, shared that he had raised a leopard in Dubai, a story that may never have surfaced without the prompt of VR. He later requested a rainforest experience, demonstrating how VR can empower residents to guide their own activity choices.
A Remarkable Response From a Bed-Bound Resident
One of the most moving outcomes involved a resident who was previously bed-bound and largely unresponsive.
After using the VR headset consistently over the course of a month (particularly the music experiences), the staff noticed a significant change. She began responding, moving more, and engaging with those around her. The improvement has been so encouraging that the team is now exploring the possibility of introducing a wheelchair.
The VR headsets are now being used alongside person-centred care sessions, typically around twice a week. Staff have reported a particularly positive impact for residents living with dementia, where VR helps create calm, familiarity, and meaningful connection.
This partnership with Barchester Healthcare is just one example of how our virtual reality is transforming care environments.
By focusing on memory, emotion, and individual experience, VR is helping care teams deliver activities that truly resonate with residents, improving quality of life in practical, human ways.
A huge thank you to Barchester Healthcare for partnering with us. We’re excited to continue working together and expanding the impact of VR across care homes in the UK.