Dallas-based Mynd Immersive launched the Great American Elderverse this week at CES 2024 in Las Vegas in what it called a groundbreaking campaign in collaboration with Dallas-based AT&T, HTC VIVE, and the CTA Foundation.

Formerly known as MyndVR, Mynd Immersive said the campaign is set to transform the lives of millions of older adults across the nation in the coming years.

“Our elders have earned this technology. They have contributed so much to our society, and it’s time to give back to them with the wonders of virtual reality, enhancing their lives in ways previously unimaginable,” CEO Chris Brickler said in a statement. “By introducing this new world, we aim to provide meaningful experiences that honor their wisdom and bring new possibilities for joy, connection and fulfillment, key happiness indicators many Americans lack as they hit their 60s and upward.”

Mynd Immersive said the initiative is intended to introduce its virtual reality (VR) therapeutics to more than 500 underserved senior care communities, powered by VIVE’s expanding product line, including VIVE Flow, VIVE XR Elite, and VIVE Focus 3.

The company said that the Elderverse is a virtual destination filled “with love, care, and compassion for older adults,” with exercises and experiences to promote mental, physical, emotional, and cognitive health.

U.S. life expectancy is rising, and so is the number of older Americans who will need long-term care (70% according to a recent report by Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies). This is just one of the pain points the Elderverse intends to address, alongside the epidemic of loneliness and isolation experienced by older adults in almost every corner of the US. 

Seniors will be able to explore Meditation Island, play Mynd games, or travel the world and beyond, all from the safety and comfort of their communities.

How VR can benefit seniors

The company said that recent research from Stanford University shows the cognitive benefits of VR for older adults and caregivers alike, with 57.9% of older adults feeling less isolated from the outside world after using Mynd and 81.5% of caregivers enjoying their interactions with residents more while using Mynd Immersive.

“This philanthropic initiative is a testament to the power of technology in creating positive change in our communities, particularly for those who are most in need of innovative solutions to improve their quality of life,” said Steve Ewell, executive director of the CTA Foundation.

Joe Drygas, head of AT&T Healthcare, said that the company’s collaboration with Mynd Immersive in the Elderverse project “aligns perfectly with our mission to connect people in meaningful ways.”

He added, “The power of 5G will help ensure that these transformative experiences are seamlessly delivered to enrich the lives of seniors.”

HTC VIVE said it is donating its lightweight, VIVE Flow immersive glasses to the participating communities.

“Mynd Immersive and HTC VIVE share a common goal of improving quality of life for people through technology. We have been working together for several years to enhance the lives of the aging population with VR, and the Elderverse program is an exciting opportunity to reach even more communities,” Cher Wang, co-founder and chairwoman of HTC, said in a statement. “The VIVE Flow is perfect for an array of senior living settings because it was designed to be comfortable, compact and incredibly easy to use.”

In 2021, we told you about how MyndVR partnered with Healing HealthCare Systems to officer Continuous Ambient Relaxation Environment VRx to residents in senior and memory care communities, assisted living centers, hospice care, and at home.

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