How do you bring nursing home residents closer to the world around them? Geoffroy Ferté, creator of Virtual Plan Advantage tries to provide an answer with virtual tours of well-known places. The businessman went, Friday, October 29, to Wilson’s headquarters in Reims.
White shirt and sleeveless puffer jacket on the back, Geoffroy opens the trunk of his car. Not without difficulty, he collects all the materials he will need: Computer, projector, scrolling screen, virtual reality headset. Loaded like a mule, he walks to the entrance to Wilson’s residence, A Accommodation facility for people Elderly Dependents (Ehpad) On the avenue Paul Marchandio de Reims. Inside, in the hallway, residents lined up in a row on chairs already ready.
After everything is installed, Geoffroy starts his presentation: “We will show you the Carnegie Library in Reims, and I will make room for Emilie Veresini and Frédéric Mongin. I, I’ll be in the navigation, behind the computer! “
For an hour, librarians give the resident a guided tour. On display, we discover the richness of the building’s Art Deco architecture, from the lobby to the reading room. Then the camera Orientation by Jeffroy, Takes Residents of the fee gallery. The assembly appears to be subdued, one resident tells us: “It’s really very good these hits. Reminds me of when I used to go to the library with my kids to borrow books”. His comrades of the same rank nodded.
It must be said that the population is starting to get used to it. They are coming now the fourth Virtual visit.
Meanwhile, Sultan Giannanotti, Host eve stay to the grain. She helps those who need it, replaces some, and laughs with others. She has been running entertainment in the residence for 34 years. She, too, is convinced by Geoffroy’s virtual tours. It is a good idea to take any enrichment activity to the residents: “At first they had some problems with the technology but now it’s good! This new type of traffic is really interesting because it stimulates them and activates their memory. And then, the good thing is that it creates topics of conversation. After each virtual visit, they discuss it together.”
Indeed, the sounds of conversations in the room rise after the show. In this bustle, Jeffroy took the opportunity to bring out his other instrument for the latecomers: His virtual reality headset.
A volunteer wheelchair resident, assisted by a business manager. Immediately after the special session, Jeffroy elaborates on his motives: “I came up with the idea to do this kind of nursing home visit, because it reflects my personal story. I was singled out at a younger age by everyday life, which can be very sad in this type of establishment. I tell myself I have to do something. This is the reason for launching these virtual tours. The visits I wanted to be grounded in reality, current events, in what was happening at the moment like a cartoon fair for example.”
If Geoffroy went to dedicate Reims this week, he doesn’t intend to stop there. He hopes to soon organize visits to other health institutions with more places and stories to share.
“Certified gamer. Problem solver. Internet enthusiast. Twitter scholar. Infuriatingly humble alcohol geek. Tv guru.”
