Virtual reality in EHPAD facilities offers teams a complement to non-pharmacological approaches to support residents in their daily lives: cognitive stimulation, reminiscence and relaxation. Developed with geriatricians, psychologists and geriatric psychiatrists, C2Care software is simple and intuitive, designed for use by older adults, including those experiencing a loss of independence.
In EHPAD facilities and care homes, non-pharmacological approaches (cognitive stimulation, reminiscence and relaxation) remain relevant to the daily support of residents experiencing a loss of independence. However, implementing them regularly in EHPAD facilities is not always straightforward.
Some activities depend on an external location that is difficult to access, such as a supermarket, or require participation that residents' motor or praxis impairments make less certain. Repeating these activities in a stable setting also remains difficult to organise.
Virtual reality makes it possible to recreate these environments directly within EHPAD facilities, in a controlled setting adapted to each resident's abilities.
The environments in the C2Care geriatrics package make it possible to recreate everyday situations, such as a supermarket setting, to work on residents' memory, orientation and praxis skills.
Engaging cognitive stimulation games encourage residents' involvement, while customisable reminiscence environments invite them to revisit memories and bring positive feelings to the surface.
Residents wearing a standalone virtual reality headset continue to receive support: the practitioner selects an environment suited to the session's objectives and can adjust exposure in real time, including through relaxation rooms designed to help residents feel calmer.
Studies of virtual reality among older adults are still often small, but their findings point in the same direction. A meta-analysis of 12 trials involving people over 65 in the early stages of cognitive decline reports favourable effects on memory and independence in daily life. In residents with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, ten cognitive stimulation sessions were associated with better overall cognition.
Tolerability is good: in a three-month programme, more than 90% of sessions were attended, with few adverse effects. These studies, cited at the bottom of the page, present virtual reality as a complement to non-pharmacological approaches.
VRET
The practitioner seats the patient on a swivel chair and fits them with the virtual reality headset
Using their interface, the practitioner selects the environment suited to the session's objectives and starts the exposure.
During immersion, the practitioner supports the patient using a visual feed and can adjust the exposure scene in real time
Environments
Each software application in the EHPAD package offers environments tailored to the therapeutic objectives of geriatrics teams.
A faithfully reproduced supermarket environment to stimulate residents' memory, orientation and praxis skills.
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Short, engaging games for cognitive, memory and praxis stimulation to encourage residents' involvement.
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Customisable places and events allow residents to revisit their memories and bring positive feelings to the surface.
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Solène Montègue
Neuropsychiatrist
The developments C2Care is currently integrating into the interface are very promising and meet the established therapeutic objectives [...]: offering tailored exercises that can be adapted to levels of dependency, cognitive disorders, and patients' real-time responses.
Samia Lahya
Psychiatrist
With the acquisition of new equipment [...] and updates to the C2Care programs, its use has expanded even further: OCD, phobias, addictions, anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD. Ten years later, it is no longer merely a curiosity, but a genuine therapeutic tool that is stimulating, innovative, and effective.
Sabrina Gineau
Psychologist
I incorporate this technology into brief therapies lasting two to four months, with one session per week. I begin with relaxation techniques and, when patients are ready, we proceed. It makes it much easier to expose people to these situations.
Noël Schepers
Psychologist
Virtual reality can enrich and personalize treatment, facilitate patient-therapist collaboration in developing the treatment plan, and add a playful dimension. The possibilities for development and application are immense and extend to every area of psychology and psychotherapy.
Mélanie Boucherot
Psychologist
The value of this technology [C2Care] lies in offering new possibilities for therapeutic support and expanding the range of tools available to healthcare professionals.
François Maltese
Psychologist
For several months, we have been using virtual reality in habituation therapies. Before the procedure, patients are progressively and immersively exposed to their future medical environment and psychologically prepared to accept it.
Dre Marie-Claude Roberge
Doctor of Psychology
Since 2022, we have been using virtual reality therapy with the C2Care platform to simulate exposure to aversive stimuli and triggers that cause anxiety. Exposure therapy is used to treat specific phobias, including fear of heights, enclosed spaces, flying, dogs, emetophobia, and many others.
Dr Laure Du Pouget
Urologist
Using a virtual reality headset for self-hypnosis during prostate biopsies creates a calm atmosphere for a procedure that can sometimes be uncomfortable, even with effective local anesthesia...
Delphine Py
Psychologist
Thank you to C2Care for providing innovative virtual reality solutions to support CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)! A major step forward in making exposure exercises easier and helping our patients overcome their phobias.
Wang J et al. — Effects of virtual reality therapy on cognitive and psychological outcomes in older adults with pre-dementia
Effects of virtual reality-based therapy on cognitive and psychological outcomes in older adults with predementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Oliveira J et al. — Virtual reality cognitive stimulation in patients with mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's disease
Virtual Reality-Based Cognitive Stimulation on People with Mild to Moderate Dementia due to Alzheimer's Disease: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Park JH et al. — Feasibility and tolerability of a culture-based virtual reality training programme in patients with mild cognitive impairment
Feasibility and Tolerability of a Culture-Based Virtual Reality (VR) Training Program in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Karssemeijer EGA et al. — Exergaming as a physical exercise strategy reduces frailty in people with dementia
Exergaming as a Physical Exercise Strategy Reduces Frailty in People With Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Gates NJ et al. — Computerised cognitive training for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy middle-aged people
Computerised cognitive training for maintaining cognitive function in cognitively healthy people in midlife
Discover
Depending on your patients' needs, other areas may also be relevant to explore. Discover the different environments available in C2Care.
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FAQ
Find answers to the questions most frequently asked by geriatrics teams about using virtual reality.
C2Care has been trialling its virtual reality software in hospitals since 2016. For several years, the scientific literature has confirmed that these systems are well accepted by older adults and effective in addressing difficulties associated with ageing.
It enables cognitive stimulation, reminiscence or relaxation sessions tailored to each resident's abilities, without leaving the facility. The studies cited on this page report favourable effects on memory and independence in daily life, with good tolerability among older adults.
Virtual reality addresses mood disorders common among older adults (depression, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders), often exacerbated by isolation or chronic pain, as well as normal or pathological cognitive decline. It complements the non-pharmacological approaches already offered to residents.
The headset operates independently, without a computer. Care staff can transport it easily. The software in the EHPAD package requires little or no use of controllers, making it accessible to residents with motor or praxis impairments.
C2Care supports facilities with a tailored offering, with or without hardware: compatible headsets (Meta Quest, Pico), software from the geriatric care package and staff training. The care professional controls the session through a web browser, on a computer or tablet, and adjusts the environment in real time.
The geriatric care package brings together several therapeutic software applications: cognitive stimulation, qualitative neuropsychological assessment, relaxation and behavioural activation.
The C2Care geriatric care package brings together software for cognitive stimulation, qualitative neuropsychological assessment, relaxation and behavioural activation. Features include a virtual supermarket to work on memory and orientation, cognitive stimulation games and customisable reminiscence environments.
The cognitive stimulation games in the EHPAD package engage residents' memory, attention and praxis abilities. Their playful nature encourages involvement, and the care professional selects a level suited to each resident's abilities.
Studies conducted with older adults report good tolerability and regular session attendance. The software in the EHPAD package requires little or no use of controllers, making it accessible to residents with motor or praxis impairments, and the care professional supports the resident throughout the immersion.
Cybersickness, a phenomenon similar to motion sickness, affects approximately 10% of virtual reality users. The software in the EHPAD package has been designed to be simple and intuitive, suited to older adults even when they are losing their independence.
The frequency depends on the goals set by the care team. In the studies cited on this page, programmes most often involved two to three sessions per week over two to three months.
C2Care software was designed with geriatricians, psychologists specialising in neuropsychology and old age psychiatrists. Geriatric care staff can easily integrate it into the health and social care services provided by EHPAD facilities.
Yes, multi-headset solutions enable group sessions. Residents can thus benefit from group dynamics during activities such as cognitive stimulation or relaxation, in keeping with non-pharmacological therapies.
For facilities, C2Care offers tailored packages based on the number of headsets, software and support required, with or without hardware. A free account allows facilities to explore the environments before committing.
Virtual reality exposure therapies are significantly more satisfactory for patients: they facilitate therapeutic engagement and adherence to care.
Yes, all our environments are available within a single application.
Our technical support team can be reached via live chat from your control platform. If you have a problem with the headset, we will work with you to diagnose the issue, understand the difficulty and find a solution. If necessary, we will provide you with a return label and replace the faulty equipment within 48 hours.
Residents with mood disorders, anxiety disorders or cognitive decline may benefit from this non-pharmacological approach, which contributes to their quality of life as a complement to their care.
