Connecting Club Enliven to the world

The Club Enliven Dunedin community have a great fondness for coming together and sharing many different experiences and recently they had something quite unique to do!

They had a virtual trip around the world (and their neighbourhoods), all the while sitting comfortably in their armchairs.

Developed by a Boston-based company called Rendever, the virtual reality technology aims to connect older people with things and places they may have never seen before or take them down memory lane by visiting the streets where they grew up.

Club Enliven Dunedin Coordinator, Marilyn Withnall, says Club Enliven members were initially a little hesitant of the technology but once the demonstration got underway and a few members tried it, more were keen to see what it was all about.

“Each member was encouraged to have a go and many of them were delighted at what they saw,” says Marilyn.

“Having a 360-degree view of the streets of London or a female cat feeding her kittens were just two examples of what was viewed. One other member had a quick tour around the world seeing sights such as Machu Picchu in Peru, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the city of Toledo in Spain and a beautiful, white sandy beach in Jamaica.”

As the demonstration progressed, it became apparent that Club Enliven members were fascinated to be given a virtual tour of different parts of the world.

“One member grew up in London and having left many years ago, was absolutely delighted when she saw her old street which invoked some pretty special memories.”

Club Enliven is a day programme which connects older people in a friendly and fun environment, enriching the lives of participants, maintaining and sometimes improving mental and physical health, as well as offering respite for caregivers. Club Enliven is offered in Alexandra, Dunedin and Mosgiel on various days of the week.

If you would like to know more please visit our Club Enliven page.

Banner image: Club Enliven members in Dunedin trying out virtual reality headsets.

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