IPB University Lecturer Uses Virtual Tour to Prevent Dementia in the Elderly in Bandung

The teaching team of IPB University Vocational School from the Ecotourism Study Program (Prodi) carried out community service activities in the Dosen Pulang Kampung (Dospulkam) program at the Wredha Budi Pertiwi Social Home, Bandung City, West Java on Monday (5/8). This activity is designed to prevent dementia in the elderly through various activities involving games and virtual reality (VR) technology.

This activity involved 22 elderly people who were invited to play memory card games as a memory exercise, before continuing with an experiment using VR devices to explore virtual tours. The elderly look enthusiastic and enjoy every activity that is held.

The Dospulkam team consists of several IPB University Vocational School lecturers from the Ecotourism Study Program, namely Natasha Indah Rahmani ST, MT; Kania Sofiantina Rahayu, SIkom MPar MTHM; Dyah Prabandari SP, MSi; and Dr Occy Bonanza SP, MT.

Natasha Indah as the project leader, explained that this activity is an effort to utilise VR technology as a virtual tour tool that can be a memory training activity for the elderly, while preventing the risk of dementia.

“We want to utilise VR technology to create virtual tour facilities that can be one of the activities for the elderly in training memory and preventing dementia,” said Natasha.

According to Dr Occy Bonanza, Secretary of IPB University Ecotourism Study Program, this activity is a form of campus concern and the lecturer team for the community, especially the elderly. “The elderly look very happy and enthusiastic in its implementation,” he explained.

Dementia, known as a disease that interferes with memory, is a serious concern in Indonesia. Currently, around 27,9 percent of the elderly in Indonesia suffer from Alzheimer’s dementia, and more than 4,2 million Indonesians are recorded to suffer from dementia.

Through this activity, Dr Occy said, the IPB University Ecotourism lecturer team is trying to make a real contribution to the prevention of dementia in the elderly, as well as introducing technological innovations that can be useful in their daily lives. (ASW/Rz) (IAAS/NAU)