“I Don’t Get to Feel This Good Very Often:” Virtual Reality Intervention for Veterans Receiving End-of-Life Care

BACKGROUND: While virtual reality (VR) is a valuable therapeutic tool, its utility for hospice and palliative care (HPC) is understudied. OBJECTIVES: We explored the use of VR with patients receiving inpatient HPC. DESIGN: Mixed methods study examining feasibility and clinical outcomes of a VR program. SETTING/SUBJECTS: Twenty-five veterans with complex medical and psychiatric comorbidities at a Veterans Affairs hospital participated. Data related to self-reported pain and well-being, as well as session feedback, were gathered. RESULTS: Despite some challenges with setup, 91% reported enjoyment, and 90% would participate again. Travel experiences were most popular, allowing reminiscence and touring of bucket-list destinations. Program feedback suggested improvements in anxiety, mood, and boredom. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate the use of VR to facilitate meaningful engagement and improve psychological well-being for veterans receiving HPC. Additionally, opportunities for socialization and reminiscence, even while bedbound, increased. These findings support further exploration of VR as an intervention in HPC.