OzCare & NeuronsVR Therapy Across Queensland
Ozcare: VR therapy programs across Queensland
Ozcare has used NeuronsVR therapy across its Queensland residential aged care homes fora number of years, it’s part of everyday care. Lifestyle teams and clinical staff use it to support dementia care, reminiscence, relaxation, communication and non-pharmacological pain management.
NeuronsVR isn’t a novelty at Ozcare, staff deploy therapy programs matahed to each residents history, intreests and care needs
Home Hill: a conversation that carried on into the evening
At Ozcare Home Hill, residents living with dementia take part in regular NeuronsVR therapy sessions. After one session, a resident who rarely joined in activities began sharing memories and stories with staff. Later that evening, even hours later, she was still reminiscing about her youth with all the people around her.
That breakthrough can be life changing. Therapy programs open a door to the person behind the care, where everyday activities don’t always reach.
Toowoomba: trucks, mechanics and travel
At Ozcare Toowoomba, NeuronsVR therapy programs featuring animals, travel, vehicles and familiar working environments have prompted residents to share their own stories about trucks, mechanics, travel and animals.
“There are heaps of places I thought I’d never see.”
Ayr: relaxation and pain management
At Ozcare Ayr, residents describe a strong sense of presence and relaxation. Across Ozcare, the Dolphin relaxation program gives residents an absorbing point of focus during periods of discomfort or clinical care. It’s used alongside existing care, giving teams another non-pharmacological option for pain.
What Ozcare says
“NeuronsVR is a diverse therapy bringing joy and engagement to many of Ozcare’s clients. Introducing NeuronsVR to our Ayr and Home Hill facilities has received such positive feedback from our clients. NeuronsVR is also used with Ozcare clients as a non-pharmacological intervention for pain management, wound management and behaviour management.”
The research behind it
The Dolphin program has been studied at the University of Stirling. In a study of adults with additional needs, sessions using the program showed statistically significant increases in prosocial behaviour, physical movement, and speech and language, compared with usual sessions.
Those findings match what Ozcare staff see every day: residents talking, remembering, responding and carrying the conversation on after the session ends.
Built around North Queensland
Because the NeuronsVR library is broad, each program is chosen for the person. A former farmer might see horses and open country. A former mechanic might see engines and machinery. In North Queensland, Ozcare is now adding locally relevant content connected to the region’s sugarcane heritage, so residents can reconnect with the places they worked and lived.
After years of use, NeuronsVR therapy is an established part of how Ozcare teams support relaxation, reminiscence, communication and non-pharmacological care.
