NATUREACH – the Interreg Aurora Project working for a Nature Reachable for All, are working with nature-based interventions for vulnerable patient groups.
The project is running five pilots of nature-based digital service models with vulnerable client groups and one pilot for care professionals in several units. The pilots uptakes advanced technologies in testing customised digital nature-based interventions with multisensory experiences based on clients needs and preferences.
Target groups in the pilots consists of people with developmental disabilities at a care unit, patients with eating disorders at a clinic, patients in palliative medicine, diabetes patients and senior care services and also care personell at the different units.
Both VR- and IRL-interventions make use of nature (e.g. natural environments, gardens, farm environments and animals) in connection with social and health services as well as supporting occupational health. The interventions aim to generate restorative and rehabilitative effects of nature which arise from participation and experiences. The interventions are provided professionally, reliably and purposefully according to clients needs.
In measuring and assessment of the effects of client pilots, several methods are applied including field observations, structured video-observations, Talking Mats, Photovoice, interviews, structured proxy interviews, Mood survey, Perceived sensory dimensions, quality of life -questionnaires and reflections of experience, well-being and recovery.
Physiological measures used are heart rate variability, blood sugar levels, weight, blood pressure and needed dose for diabetes-related drugs. Measuring heart rate variability (HRV) and physical activity is also applied with several client groups in this project.
Some experiences from clients and care professionals in the different pilot groups so far:
• Residents have given positive comments about visits to the dome.
• Care professionals have found the virtual environments produced in the project to be of very high quality.
• Professionals want to get truly familiar with the equipment and measuring methods before starting the interventions with their vulnerable clients.
• The staff also think virtual nature is well-suited for their own use.
• Something learned so far is that we don’t need to be afraid of testing VR with older persons.
Enquiries about the possibility of participating in the project have also been received from other intrested units.
Learn more:
More details from client groups and interventions.
Read more about the NATUREACH project.
