The metaverse continues to be the buzzword and industry du jour within the tech space, and VR is often at the center of most metaverse technology being developed. While the metaverse and VR tech are primarily targeted at younger users, Gen Z and millennials aren’t the only demographic companies are interested in.
Plano-based MyndVR is a VR therapeutics provider primarily focused on the senior care industry. In order to reach more skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, MyndVR recently announced a partnership with long-term healthcare facility investment trust Omega Healthcare. The three-year partnership will bring therapeutic VR experiences to more facilities in the U.S. and U.K., approximately 1,000 senior care and skilled nursing facilities.
"We are deeply committed to providing VR-based therapeutic solutions that involve interactive content, sensory technology, and measurable outcomes," MyndVR CEO and co-founder Chris Brickler said in a statement. “We are thrilled to partner with Omega to expand our reach and scale in improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of seniors.”
Research has shown that VR therapy can have multiple benefits for seniors from alleviating loneliness to improving cognitive function. A 2018 study showed that VR use improved participants memory accuracy by 8.8 percent. It can also be used as a distraction from pain for seniors living with certain disabilities or illness.
Currently, MyndVR serves several hundred senior living communities across 45 U.S. states, Canada, and Australia. One of MyndVR’s customers, Sodalis Senior Living, has rolled out MyndVR’s product in 26 communities in Florida and Texas.
“At Sodalis, we have seen an immediate improvement in resident socialization after using MyndVR, as well as an increase in activity engagement with staff,” Sodalis President Traci Taylor-Roberts said in a statement. “It’s exciting because VR represents a game-changing approach to delivering activities and therapies for our residents.”
This partnership news comes after MyndVR’s acquisition of Ohio-based Immersive Cure, another VR healthtech company which serves veterans and individuals in hospice care.
