Virtual reality program to develop dementia‐friendly communities in Japan
Dianis Wulan Sari, Ayumi Igarashi, Manami Takaoka, Reiko Yamahana, Maiko Noguchi‐Watanabe, Chie Teramoto, Noriko Yamamoto‐Mitani
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Dementia-friendly communities promote community coherence and reduce the risk of ageism in the community. This study examined the effects of a Virtual Reality (VR) educational program on participants' attitudes towards dementia and their sense of community related to supporting community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We delivered an educational program using a virtual reality platform that provided a first-person perspective of people with dementia in the courtyards of two convenience stores in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, Japan. We investigated attitudes towards dementia and participants' sense of community before and after the educational program. RESULTS: There were 42 study participants (average age = 48 years). The total scores of attitudes towards dementia and sense of community changed positively from pre- to postintervention (P = .004 and <.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: This educational program for understanding dementia could enhance people's support of community members living with dementia.