Innovative Technology Enhances CapitalCare's Recreation Therapy

At CapitalCare Lynnwood you might overhear excited residents discussing their recent trip to Athens. And at the Kipnes Centre for Veterans, you may witness groups of residents and family members huddled around a table excitedly discussing the next game they’ll load up to play. Both scenes are the result of CapitalCare’s recreation therapists’ dedicated efforts to introduce engaging new virtual reality and light-projection technology that improves CapitalCare residents’ quality of life. 

Recreation therapists at CapitalCare Lynnwood had searched for an effective Virtual Reality (VR) program for years. When Korene Kawalilak, a rec therapist at Lynnwood, read an article about the Rendever VR system, she thought she might have finally found an answer to their team’s search. After researching the company and organizing an information session for the Lynnwood rec team, the team believed Rendever would work well with CapitalCare’s residents and moved forward with the program. 

The Rendever system transports residents to virtual environments via wearable headsets. They can explore historical landmarks across the world or revisit areas where they’ve built treasured memories. Residents play games or attend virtual events, which fosters social interaction and enhances cognitive performance. The variety of calming environments and nature scenes also promotes relaxation while providing numerous therapeutic benefits. By granting residents control over how they traverse virtual reality, they can experience a greater sense of autonomy and independence. 

A Lynnwood resident using a Rendever VR headset.

Korene and the rec therapy team at Lynnwood initially implemented Rendever in October of 2023. At first, some residents were shocked. 

“When I first saw the words ‘virtual reality’ printed on our activities paper here, you can’t imagine my disbelief,” says Dawn Orr, a Lynnwood resident. Dawn fondly recalls her first experience with virtual reality. “It felt like I’d stepped into an open-air lounge at a quiet resort. In front of me was a meadow with tall grass, trees, and butterflies drifting through the air. It was calm and welcoming, like I’d just arrived somewhere peaceful. From there I was carried to Athens, past stone houses carved into the mountains, places I know I’ll never walk through again in real life. But with VR, for a little while, I can.” 

Dawn believes every long term care home should have virtual reality headsets because they improve health, foster connection, and help people experience freedom they thought they had lost. After a family member witnessed the technology's positive impact on the Lynnwood community, they donated an additional two headsets. Now, Rendever is regularly featured throughout recreation calendars at the centre, and in February 2024, Lynnwood was recognized by Rendever for generating the most engagement of all companies using the program. 

The rec therapy team at the Kipnes Centre for Veterans (KCV) had also searched for innovative uses of technology to engage residents, and they eventually landed on Tovertafel. 

Tovertafel is a ceiling-mounted projector that projects light onto a table, providing the opportunity to engage multiple players simultaneously. Users decide which games and difficulty levels they would like to play, choosing between various cognitive, physical, social or sensory-focused games. Shauna Kessler, a rec therapist at Kipnes, still recalls how residents excitedly crowded the Tover table during its first day, eager to take their turn playing the games. 

A resident playing a Tovertafel game.

“The Tovertafel is a great interactive tool that can be used by everyone living in or visiting Kipnes,” says Kessler.  

Kessler has witnessed staff, volunteers, and family members of all generations playing games with residents. Amidst the laughter and joy, she’s observed that the residents benefit from the stimulation and tend to become more curious about the activities, which leads to more natural gathering in the common area. 

Tovertafel's motion activated system can be used all day. Some residents with dementia who experience sundowning behaviours, like confusion or restlessness, benefit from the light projection technology, which Kessler says creates a more positive environment for them. A family member whose husband lives with advanced dementia at Kipnes says she’s seen how Tovertafel “can help to calm and entertain others. It’s a great interactive tool.” 

After the initial trial at Kipnes, Tovertafel was adopted and integrated into several CapitalCare centres’ recreation programs, including CapitalCare Lynnwood, Grandview, and Dickinsfield.  

The CapitalCare Foundation has assisted in funding some of the financial costs of the two systems. The Foundation raises funds to support the work and care provided by CapitalCare staff and helps to raise the bar in quality of life for those in care.  

By taking the time to involve the entire care home community of residents, family members, volunteers, and staff in their thoughtful integration of new technologies, the recreation team helped find new ways for CapitalCare residents to live their lives to the fullest. CapitalCare is proud to celebrate the contributions of recreation staff who demonstrate their commitment to person-centred care and exemplify what it means to be a leader in continuing care.