Dementia care, on both national and global scales, faces mounting pressures as incidence increases, effective treatments remain elusive, and existing support systems struggle to provide personalised, enriching experiences for those in moderate-to-advanced stages of the condition. Simultaneously, virtual reality (VR) technology has advanced rapidly in both capability and accessibility, offering potentially new ways to deliver immersive experiences to spark reminiscence, social connection, and improve emotional wellbeing. In this report, we explore how these two trajectories—heightened demand for person-centred dementia care and the maturation of immersive technologies—could converge to shape a more inclusive future for people living with dementia. Through four complementary streams of inquiry, we explore the depth and breadth of VR’s potential in dementia support. We report on two studies led by the Centre for Immersive Technologies: (i) surveying experts working in healthcare and/or with XR technologies; and (ii) a focus group with the underserved South Asian community. The results of this work show that interventions must reflect personal histories and linguistic preferences if they are to be truly meaningful. We highlight the results of a Yorkshire-based VR company, Recreo VR, who conducted a feasibility trial with 101 participants in community and care-home settings. Their personalised, low-flow 360° videos successfully engaged up to 97% of users, eliciting recollections of treasured life events and facilitating valuable conversations that might otherwise have remained dormant. Finally, a pilot project at Bradford District Care Trust demonstrated that even in the most challenging environment of inpatient wards, VR shows potential for reducing agitation, promoting calmness, and allowing patients who cannot leave the ward to access virtual nature or travel scenes. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the significant potential for VR interventions to be integrated into diverse care pathways, whether as reminiscence sessions in care homes, family-oriented activities in community centres, or therapeutic tools in acute hospital settings. They also underscore that a one-size-fits-all approach will not suffice: content must be culturally relevant, co-designed with people who have dementia, and supported by clear training and guidelines for caregivers. Larger-scale trials, rigorous evaluation of clinical outcomes, and engagement with policy makers will be critical in transforming these promising pilots into standard practice. By bridging empathy, technological innovation, and cultural awareness, VR may be able to offer deeply personal, uplifting moments for people with dementia, pointing toward a future where immersive care is as inclusive as it is transformative.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)