EmpowVR

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VR Empowers family caregivers

In Germany, more than 76% of those in need of care are cared for at home by relatives, outpatient care services or a combination of both, with two-thirds of these being cared for exclusively by relatives.

People in need of care with complex care needs should also be supported in being able to manage their everyday lives independently for as long as possible. Family caregivers play an important role in this, but often rarely take advantage of help despite the heavy physical and psychological burden. This is particularly the case with training courses for relatives. Instead of empowerment and self-management, these often focus purely on imparting knowledge, the aim being to develop competencies that enable caregivers to solve any problems and perform care activities independently.

Based on our previous experiences in the xR-Skills-Lab project, VR simulations for different care scenarios in the outpatient sector will be developed and evaluated. The simulated care activities take into account current care processes and different patients in need of care, e.g. dementia or stroke patients.

  • Caregivers do not accept help Despite the heavy physical and psychological burden on family caregivers, they rarely take advantage of help, particularly training courses, which tend to be extremely theoretical in nature.
  • Developing VR caregiving simulations VR simulations for different types of patients in a variety outpatient care scenarios will be developed and evaluated.
  • Empowering family caregivers The VR training simulations will empower family caregivers to self-manage by helping them to develop competencies that enable them to solve problems and perform care activities independently.

Project partners

  • Furtwangen University, Care & Technology Lab
  • Evangelische Altenhilfe St. Georgen

Funding

The project is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Integration as part of the "Zukunftsland BW" funding programme.

  • EmpowVR (I61)

I'm happy to answer any questions about the project!

Your key contact

  •  Prof. Dr. Christophe Kunze
    Prof. Dr. Christophe Kunze Professor for Assistive Health Technologies
    Board member - Care and Technology Lab (IMTT)
    Deputy Head - Institute for Applied Research (IAF)