Paul DeHondt

The Department of Veterans Affairs is significantly expanding its use of virtual reality as a therapeutic tool, partnering with Mynd Immersive to bring immersive experiences to 45 additional VA medical centers nationwide. The initiative reflects a broader institutional shift toward non-pharmacological care, particularly for chronic pain, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.

Loneliness has become one of the chronic, debilitating issues of modern life. It can increase the risk of hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, as well as depression and anxiety. While it can affect people of all ages, those over 65 are the most vulnerable, as they step out of jobs and careers, lose spouses to divorce or death, and deal with families that have dispersed to other parts of the country or world.

In the era of longevity, how will people find ways to have social connections for longer, healthier lives?

Carol Foster, 82, said she wanted to travel the world after trying Mynd Immersive’s VR headset.

New tools tailored for use in senior living communities allow for shared experiences and social bonding.

Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University offers Mynd Immersive VR headsets to its residents for use in therapy.