Carleigh Berryman is giving elderly people in the United States a new lens on life. “Seniors often face mental health issues that go unnoticed,” she says. It never occurred to her that her family members could also suffer from late-life depression. “When my own grandmother told me she didn’t know why she was bothering to get up in the morning, it was heartbreaking,” Berryman says. To relieve the stress of older people, she began using virtual reality to transport them to new and familiar environments they cannot easily access. In 2019, Berryman founded Viva Vita to offer the technology to retirement communities. “We are empowering these seniors to live life to the fullest,” she says.
Mental health is increasingly becoming less stigmatised in certain parts of the world, but the wellbeing of older adults is often left out of the conversation. “Many of them are battling boredom, chronic pain or just lack of excitement,” Berryman says. They make up 12% of the US population, yet they account for about 18% of suicides. “If we could just do one thing to give these individuals something to smile about, then we should,” she says. Berryman and her team partner with young photographers and creatives from around the world who create travel and wildlife content, helping to stimulate the minds of elderly people. Together, they play an active role in boosting the overall health of seniors. With easy-to-use virtual reality kits, seniors have a source of upliftment at their fingertips. “Seeing their reactions makes everything so worth it,” Berryman says. “It’s what gets us out of bed every day.”
Care staff members have seen a visible difference in patients using virtual reality, especially those living with Alzheimer’s disease who have become more talkative and less isolated. Through Viva Vita, Berryman has united younger generations to assist elders like her grandmother. “It's really those little moments of joy and engagement in their life that can make a huge difference,” Berryman says.
Footage and photos by Viva Vita were used in the creation of this film.
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