How Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality is Being Used to Support People Living with Dementia—Design Challenges and Future Directions

The number of people worldwide that suffer with Dementia is estimated at 46 million people and is set to increase to 131.5 million by 2050 at a combined cost estimated at $818bn. Caring for our elderly population living with dementia raises issues over resources in terms of financial aid and time. This paper reviews from existent research projects how Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR), have been used as cognitive aids to the person living with Dementia (PwD), specifically in the early stages of the condition. The purpose of these interventions being to provide PwD with strategies to maintain their independent living. Within VR and AR, gamification approaches have also been used to provide support through the delivery of calming experiences, use as memory aids, and also cognitive stimulation. VR has also been used as a learning tool enabling carers to gain a better understanding to the challenges PwD face every day. The end of this paper identifies a number of design challenges that exist going forward and includes possible future directions that may be taken.