The Use of Virtual Reality‐Reminiscence Interventions in Older Adults Living With Dementia or Cognitive Impairment: An Integrative Review

The growing prevalence of cognitive impairments and dementia in older people has prompted research into new approaches to enhance their quality of life. Virtual reality-reminiscence intervention (VR-RI) is one recent non-pharmacological intervention that has shown efficacy in promoting mental health in patients with dementia or cognitive impairment. The review aims to synthesise the research findings of the feasibility and acceptability of VR-RI in individuals with dementia or cognitive impairment. Whittemore and Knafl's five-step method was adopted as a framework to guide this review. PubMed, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO were all extensively searched. The articles were critically evaluated, data were extracted, and eligibility criteria were reviewed. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria for this integrative review. The synthesis of these studies revealed two general sections: (a) feasibility of VR-RI among older adults with dementia or cognitive impairment and (b) acceptability of VR-RI among older adults with dementia or cognitive impairment. The included studies generally reported that VR-RI's feasibility and acceptability for older adults with dementia or cognitive impairment are promising. However, the strength of evidence remains limited due to small sample sizes, heterogeneity in study designs and reminiscence approaches, and a lack of consideration of dementia type, content familiarity, and personalised VR content based on participants' past experiences.