Reframing loneliness through the design of a virtual reality reminiscence artefact for older adults

Abstract Loneliness among older adults is a major societal problem. Research shows that feelings of loneliness are often linked to a lack of social relationships and social connectivity. Therefore, most loneliness interventions are focussing on strengthening and expanding the social life of older adults. Lonely older adults can also experience a lack of meaning in life, which can be countered by meaning-making interventions. Literature provides minimal insight into the design rationale of those interventions. This paper aims to provide insight into the design rationale of a Virtual Reality (VR) artefact for older adults with feelings of loneliness. The artefact focuses on retrieving meaningful memories through reminiscence. The needs and context of the participants were mapped by Research through Design (RtD), and a prototype was designed and tested. Preliminary test results suggest that VR-reminiscence can promote the well-being of lonely older adults, as well as the participatory design approach itself. VR-reminiscence triggered in-depth conversations about past, present, and future life. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to design loneliness interventions beyond merely social relationships and social connectivity through designing tailored interventions that focus on the individual experience of loneliness by engaging older adults in the design process.