When we think of cutting-edge innovation, Society generally assumes that seniors and tech just don’t mix. However, with ageing population around the world and a growing need for age-inclusive technologies, technologies will need to deliver and motivate older users to jump in again and again. The metaverse is ready to lead the change.

In an interview with YouAreUnited, Dr. Alex Mihailidis, scientific director and CEO, Age-Well, feels confident the metaverse has something to offer elderly, providing new virtual spaces in which people can interact. “First and foremost, it will help older adults maintain their social contact and maintain connectedness with their friends, their family, their communities,” he says. “And people will be able to continue doing activities that they’ve always loved doing but perhaps are not able to do anymore because of physical limitations or they can’t get to those activities. The metaverse will also allow older adults to remain in contact with their healthcare professionals. I think the metaverse and its various tools and applications are going to play a larger role in all those areas.”

Alongside Age-well, a few companies are developing the ecosystems that are putting senior users first:

MyndVR is developing applications specifically for seniors, who may be grappling with memory loss, which it markets to assisted living facilities and nursing homes. The device, for example, could use virtual reality to allow people to transport to places they’ve been and conjure old memories.

Rendever, a leading virtual reality platform focused on social and mental health, particularly for seniors. It’s relive function allows for reminiscence therapy, while the reinspire create new friendships through the power of shared experience.

In all cases, the two pillars of an elderly-friendly digital environment are:
user-friendly interfaces and elderly-oriented services. The former necessitates the understanding of older individuals’ communication capacity, which usually includes visual or hearing impairment, decreased ability to retain information or repeat complicated processes, mood instability, tremor and voice alterations. The latter requires a thorough mapping of needs associated with healthy aging. Going further, the United Nations have recently highlighted inclusive building environments, combating ageism and providing integrated long-term care as top priorities towards this end – a series of guidelines that could be duplicated from architecture in the mirror world for greater equity.

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