Staff at Hermitage House Care Home in Thrapston recently fulfilled a wish for resident Kate. Kate had mentioned to staff her desire to visit North Yorkshire again as it was one of her favourite places. Now with travelling being a bit more difficult for Kate, the home decided to think outside of the box to grant this wish.
‘Kate loves Yorkshire and has spent many happy holidays there with her family, she especially loves the North Riding area. Together with her husband and sometimes friends of the family they visited Thirsk, Whitby, and many other local places. They stayed in the same bed and breakfast every year at Levisham, a tiny hamlet of less than 100 residents about 5 miles north of Pickering in the North York Moors National Park.’ Commented Customer Relations Manager Jess Grayson.
“You had to go up a very steep hill to get to the bed and breakfast in Levisham, but once you were there it was beautiful, the children would help the owners water vegetables in one of the six greenhouses. They had a horse and the children loved playing badminton on the lawn.” Remembered Kate.
To grant Kate’s wish staff at Hermitage House sought the support of the virtual reality specialists Recreo VR ‘Our goal is to facilitate a seamless integration of virtual reality into the daily practices of care facilities, ensuring a transformative and enriching experience for all involved’.
‘Today I’ve been transported back to my fondest memories in North Yorkshire, which has all been made possible through the power of this wonderful technology. I’ve been able to see Levisham on the VR headset including the church, village centre, and tiny post office. I also saw Whitby and was reminded of the statues of the herring sellers on the dock. I also especially loved seeing the Abbey on the hill and couldn’t believe the size of the seagulls.’ Commented Kate.
When Kate saw all these fond and familiar places she commented “It’s so clear and very realistic. I’ve loved seeing all this again, we live in our memories, and what lovely memories they are”.
‘Resident Maureen also used the VR headset and looked around Nunnington Hall, a National Trust property near Thirsk. She was able to see inside the Hall and admire all the paintings, books, and artefacts on display.
Other residents looked at gardens and local landmarks, they were amazed at how real the experience was.’ Commented Home Manager Susan Barnes.
‘We want to all say a big thank you to Recreo VR for helping us make this wish possible for our resident Kate. It was a wonderful session enjoyed by all in the comfort of our care home. ‘Commented the staff team at Hermitage House Care Home.
To find out more about life at Hermitage House Care Home, please contact our home on 01832 430 084 or via email at hermitagehouse@countrycourtcare.com
