When seniors do virtual reality

AS Kathy Helgerson slipped the pair of MINDVR goggles over Rita Strauss’ head, the reaction was instant.

“It looks like Midnight!” Strauss, 87, said with glee. “My tomcat.”

It’s moments like this that lead Helgerson, Strauss’ daughter and founder of “Simple Steps to Technology,” to say she has “the best job in the world.”

“It is so powerful, I can’t even tell you,” Helgerson said, tears welling in her eyes at the spark of recognition from her mom, who has Alzheimer’s.

Two years ago, Helgerson made it her mission to infuse new energy and experiences into the lives of elderly individuals like her mother, connecting them with the excitement and technology of the modern world. Starting with Skype programs and smartphone tutorials, Helgerson has recently branched into virtual reality and wireless headphones, bringing topof-the-line equipment into local assisted living facilities to enhance the residents’ listening and viewing experiences.

“This is a no-brainer,” Helgerson said, distributing Ever sound headphones to a group of seven seniors at Brookdale Assisted Living.

While some residents have been reticent to accept the changes in technology, Helgerson has found most are open to giving the headphones and goggles a whirl.

Dinner in white

PARISIANS and tourists wearing seasonally appropriate all-white outfits enjoyed gourmet picnics Sunday in front of the French capital’s 19th century Les Invalides monument, a meal heightened by a preceding mystery.

The location of the 30th anniversary staging of the international dining event known as “Diner en Blanc,” or “Dinner in White,” was revealed to participants in a series of text messages up until the last minute.

People gathered on green lawns with fabulous views of the gold-domed building that houses the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte and other prominent French figures.

They brought tables with white tablecloths and sipped champagne and wine.

Organizers expected 20,000 to 30,000 participants, one-third of them from outside France. The Champs-Elysees avenue, the Louvre museum and the Eiffel Tower are among past sites.

Francois Pasquier, who launched the event in Paris in 1988, said more than two dozen orchestras were set to entertain guests.

Last year, over 110,000 people in 28 countries participated in “Dinner in White” events.