The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) researchers have developed a virtual therapeutic garden for the elderly in residents care homes. This project has received support from the Healthy Longevity Catalyst Awards (Hong Kong) (HLCA (HK)) in 2023.
Dr Esther H.K. YUNG, Associate Professor of Department of Building and Real Estate at PolyU, has led the project titled “A Cave Automatic Virtual Therapeutic Garden for Residential Care Homes for the Elderly,” and it has received the HLCA (HK).
The Research Grants Council (RGC) has collaborated with the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) of the United States for the HLCA (HK). The award aims to encourage bold and innovative ideas from any discipline that have the potential to extend the human healthspan. The RGC offers ten Catalyst Awards in the HLCA (HK) each year with a cash prize of approximately HK$389,000 at a maximum for a period of 12 months.
Given that older people living in Residential Care Homes for the Elderly (RCHEs) have limited opportunity to access to public open space due to the mobility impairments or chronic illness, the project can provide them with a simulated experience of natural healing elements. This initiative aims to reduce stress and improve psychological and emotional well-being. Besides, due to the limited land resources in Hong Kong, it is difficult to allocate space for an outdoor garden within RCHEs.
The awarded project innovatively applies the concept of a therapeutic garden by using Cave Automatic Virtual Environment to build a virtual therapeutic garden within RCHEs. Experimental design workshops will be organised with the residents to decide the key design elements of the therapeutic garden. Also, the study will analyse the residents’ perceived stress and psychological well-being during their use of therapeutic garden.
The research team of this project also includes Prof. Angela LEUNG, Associate Head (Research) & Professor of School of Nursing at PolyU, Dr Sun YI, Associate Head (Partnership) and Associate Professor of Department of Building and Real Estate at PolyU, Dr Wayne CHAN, Assistant Professor of Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at PolyU, and Dr Siqiang WANG, Postdoctoral Fellow of the Department of Building and Real Estate at PolyU.
