James Hadley wanted to return to his birthplace in Vancouver, Canada while Don Jackson wanted to see the giant Canadian redwood trees.

And now thanks to a virtual reality pilot program, residents of  the Wontama aged care facility in Orange can join them in experiencing their bucket-list ambitions, without leaving the facility.

Uniting Wontama is one of five pilot sites across NSW and the ACT for the program, a partnership between Uniting and Samsung which allows the elderly to enjoy immersive virtual reality experiences.

Helen Mobbs, Residential Service Manager at Uniting Wontama said there were many opportunities to use “emerging and innovative techologies” to benefit residents.

“By welcoming innovative technology we’re able to look at virtual care services such as offering health care and patient videoconferencing,” she said.

“We’re also able to help reduce social isolation and boredom within our homes.”

She said technology was changing the face of aged care.

“Over the next two years Uniting will introduce a household model into all of our aged care homes which allows residents to choose when to get up, when to have meals and who to socialise with,” she said.

Associate Professor Nick Brennan of the Uniting War Memorial Hospital in Sydney said virtual reality technology was giving people with dementia and the elderly adventures they could not otherwise achieve due to mobility or health issues.

“Studies suggest that virtual reality can have a therapeutic effect and stimulate the brain,” he said.

“Providing new adventures for these patients can help to reduce stress and boredom and creates new ways for them to interact with their peers.

“As part of this pilot carers at Uniting will also be able to use the technology to experience a realistic day in the life of a resident with dementia.”

Professor Brennan said it would give carers an understanding of the “stress, confusion and disorientation” the residents experienced.

Uniting executive director Tracey Burton said the pilot program started in January with a resident who wanted to visit New York and meet a police officer and achieved it through immersive virtual reality.