One in 15 people aged 50+ is often lonely, rising to one in three for widowed and one in four for those in poor health. Loneliness and social isolation have numerous health consequences, including a 26 percent increased mortality likelihood and more than doubling the risk of developing dementia. Lonely individuals are more prone to both depression and suicide.
The pressing issue of loneliness among the ageing population is one that the Planet Wellbeing project in the UK has harnessed the potential of virtual reality (VR) technology to address.
Spearheaded by power-assisted exercise experts Innerva, this initiative involves a consortium that includes immersive technology specialist Pixelmill Digital, Sheffield Hallam University's Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), and Age UK Sheffield.
Funded through Innovate UK's 2023 Mindset Extended Reality for Digital Mental Health competition, the project seeks to leverage immersive technologies for enhancing mental health and wellbeing services.
Loneliness is a pervasive challenge affecting a significant portion of older adults. Planet WellBeing, to combat this issue, introduces a virtual world where older adults can engage in enjoyable activities, connect with peers, and alleviate feelings of isolation.
Jon Hymus, Commercial Director of Innerva, emphasises the project's aim to provide a safe, engaging, and inclusive virtual world that addresses the mental health and wellbeing challenges older adults face. The development process of Planet Wellbeing is grounded in feedback from older individuals to ensure it caters to their needs and can be accessed irrespective of physical capabilities.
The project's impact will be rigorously assessed, delving into its influence on participants' mental wellbeing, including parameters such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, and overall quality of life. Vin Sumner, CEO at PixelMill Digital, expressed enthusiasm about leveraging immersive technology to enhance the lives of individuals struggling with loneliness.
Teresa Barker, Chief Executive of Age UK Sheffield, shared her excitement about participating in this consortium and working with industry experts to develop Planet WellBeing. She envisions the virtual world as a potential game-changer in the approach towards mental health and wellbeing for older adults.
Dr Ben Heller, Associate Professor at Sheffield Hallam University's Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, underscores the project's alignment with its mission of improving health and wellbeing through movement.
Launched in June 2023, the Planet WellBeing project is slated to span 18 months. Supported by Innovate UK, this consortium seeks to pave the way for ongoing innovation in digital mental health for the older adult population.
