Seniors travel to exciting destinations via virtual reality
Parks and rec senior program partners with Oakleigh of Macomb for events
Macomb Township senior citizens can now experience Mardi Gras, Ireland and Greece without setting foot outside of their home township, via a new virtual reality travel series.
The Virtual Adventure Series is being offered by Macomb Township Parks and Recreation’s senior activities, in partnership with Oakleigh of Macomb senior living community. Through the program, senior citizens can virtually travel to a new destination each month at Marvin Blank Senior Center.
“Basically, it offers virtual reality for seniors,” Macomb Township Senior Citizen Programmer Aubrey Brohl said. “It is not necessarily like a gaming system, it is more of an experience, like a tool. So they can experience like, swimming with dolphins, or sky diving. They can go to different destinations if they choose.”
With virtual reality goggles and a program called Rendever, seniors will explore new locations via virtual reality in the program. They also have an opportunity to socialize and enjoy destination inspired refreshments when not using the goggles.
“What we wanted to do is a program at our center, to make it like the overall experience, in addition to using the VR goggles. Participants also get to have themed refreshments as well,” Brohl said, adding she was first approached about offering the virtual reality series to Macomb Township senior citizens
by Oakleigh of Macomb Community Relations Director Kelly Brent last fall, and was open to the idea of the new programming for the senior center.
“It’s a great avenue to help seniors get familiar with the technology out there and know that it is more of a tool than a gaming experience,” Brohl said.
Oakleigh offers assisted living, memory care, wellness, life enrichment activities and more for seniors. Brent said virtual reality using Rendever is available regularly there. She pointed out virtual reality allows seniors to travel without leaving Oakleigh and assists memory care residents by allowing them to revisit locations of their past, such as a childhood home. The program was piloted at Oakleigh about a year ago, Brent said.
“We had great participation and feedback from our residents. We officially rolled it out as part of our standard programming for life enrichment. Our residents enjoy traveling or seeing places they used to go to with spouses or family members, or places they have never gone,” Brent said. “Or they’d like to experience walking with penguins or swimming with dolphins. We are able to bring this to residents who maybe have physical limitations. It expands the boundaries for what our residents can do.”
In bringing the virtual reality to senior citizens in the Macomb Township community for outreach outside of Oakleigh, Brent and Brohl developed virtual travel themes. Each month the program is offered at the Macomb Township Marvin Blank Senior Center, the program will feature a unique virtual destination.
“Our library has thousands of different experiences you can choose from,” Brent said.
The first Virtual Adventure Series virtual reality trip was on Jan. 9, and had a winter wonderland theme. Brohl said senior citizens who attended virtually experienced Iceland. She said that the program is operated by an Oakleigh employee, who sets up and manages the experience, so all seniors have to do is put on the goggles to enjoy.
The next virtual reality destination for the Virtual Adventure Series will Mardi Gras, held Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. Registration is now open for this program and will close on Feb. 13. Registration can be found at register.macomb-mi. gov/ViewCourseActivityDetails.aspx?id=C15048 or by calling 586-992-2900. The senior center is located at 51210 Alma Drive in Macomb Township.
Cost to attend a Virtual Adventure Series program is $5 for Macomb Township residents or $10 for non-residents. About 40 spots are available for each program, and pre-registration is required. The Ireland virtual trip will be held on March 12, and a Greece trip on April 9. More information can be found at macomb-mi. gov/370/Senior-Activities .