The Impact of Virtual Reality Experiences on the Quality of Life and Psychological Well-Being of the Elderly

As aging societies emerge, the holistic well-being and quality of life of the elderly have come into focus on a global scale. In recent times, the progress of technology has led to the widespread application of Virtual Reality (VR) technology across diverse sectors. This study adopted a rehabilitation interactive game as its experiential content, involving a total of 13 participants. The gaming experience was facilitated through the utilization of the Cardboard VR device. For usability assessment, the study employed the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire, with an average total score of 77.8. Impressively, 11 participants scored above 70. In summation, the Cardboard VR system received affirmative evaluations in terms of user experience within the elderly demographic.In addition to positive feedback, this study utilized semi-structured interviews to understand the challenges encountered during the experience. The results of the interviews revealed that some elderly participants felt confused or uncomfortable while using the device. A minority of participants experienced dizziness in the virtual environment or had difficulty adjusting the focal length for optimal viewing. Suggestions were provided regarding interface color combinations and motion feedback mechanisms. This study employed the user-friendly Cardboard VR as the experimental device. Future research could further explore the impact of immersive VR experiences on the quality of life and mental well-being of the elderly population.