Introduction
The supported housing sector faces unprecedented challenges today. A growing demand for services, coupled with increasingly complex resident needs, requires innovative solutions. Now, a pioneering initiative from Apax, a non-profit organisation providing assisted living for vulnerable adults, is demonstrating the transformative power of virtual reality (VR) in enhancing resident wellbeing and equipping them with essential life and digital skills they need to help them transition to independent living.
Recognising the significant barriers to independent living faced by individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges, Apax has launched a groundbreaking VR Wellness Initiative. This first-of-its-kind programme in the assisted living sector is already showing remarkable success in improving residents' mental health and fostering digital literacy, offering new hope and practical solutions to those who need it most.
Understanding VR for Mental Wellbeing
Virtual reality has evolved far beyond its gaming origins to become a powerful tool for mental health support. By creating immersive, controlled environments, VR offers unique therapeutic benefits that traditional methods alone often cannot achieve.
The VR Wellness application integrates seamlessly into the daily routines of residents, offering a variety of therapeutic experiences. These include calming mindfulness exercises, interactive nature scenes, and guided meditation sessions. By providing a sense of escapism and promoting relaxation, VR helps residents manage stress, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve their overall emotional wellbeing.
What makes VR particularly effective for mental wellbeing is its ability to:
- Create safe spaces for emotional regulation
- Offer consistent, repeatable therapeutic experiences
- Provide immediate sensory feedback
- Enable gradual exposure to challenging situations
- Engage users in active participation rather than passive consumption
For residents who may have limited experience with technology, the intuitive nature of VR provides a safe and engaging platform to develop these skills. This combination of mental health support and digital skill development creates a holistic approach to recovery that addresses multiple barriers to independent living simultaneously.
The Apax VR Wellness Programme
Apax supports individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges, a population often facing significant barriers to independent living. According to Crisis, a UK homelessness charity, 45% of homeless individuals have a diagnosed mental health condition, rising to 80% among rough sleepers. With the right support in mental health recovery and digital skills, these individuals can make significant progress toward independent living.
The VR Wellness Initiative, launched at Apax's Lewisham-based supported housing services, combines Meta Quest 2 headsets with the TRIPP meditation app—an AI-powered digital wellness platform. This carefully selected combination offers residents access to immersive experiences specifically designed to reduce stress, manage moods, and promote overall mental wellbeing.
Israa Qaddourah, Project Manager at Apax, explains: "The vast majority of our residents have the potential to live independently one day. Our job is to provide the services that ensure they can confidently complete that journey. Our new VR wellness programme has delivered incredible results that have improved mental health and provided the confidence that people need for a more fulfilling life."
The programme emerged from a successful eight-week proof-of-concept trial conducted between November 2023 and January 2024. Following the trial's positive outcomes, Apax decided to roll out the technology to more than 140 residents, making it available as a complementary approach alongside traditional support methods.
Measurable Outcomes and Resident Benefits
Apax employs a comprehensive approach to measuring the programme's effectiveness. Residents answer pre- and post-session questions embedded in the Meta Quest headsets, allowing key workers to assess immediate outcomes. Long-term progress is tracked through detailed surveys and outcome wheels, providing valuable insights into individual experiences and overall programme efficacy.
To date, the programme has demonstrated remarkable success:
- 60% reduction in stress levels
- 90% increase in mental wellbeing
- 100% positive impact overall
- 80% of participants found the technology easy to use from the start
- Every participant recommended the programme
One especially noteworthy case involved a resident whose average mood score improved dramatically—from just 10% to a remarkable 88% after completing 14 sessions. This improvement led to significantly increased social engagement, illustrating how the benefits extend beyond the VR sessions themselves into everyday life.
The programme not only helps residents manage their immediate mental health challenges but also equips them with digital confidence—a critical skill for navigating today's increasingly digital world. This dual benefit makes the VR Wellness Initiative particularly valuable as a stepping stone toward independent living.
Building Digital Skills and Confidence
The benefits of Apax's VR initiative extend beyond mental health. Engaging with VR technology also fosters digital literacy, a critical skill for navigating today's world and accessing vital services. For residents who may have limited experience with technology, the intuitive nature of VR provides a safe and engaging platform to develop these skills.
The Meta Quest headsets offer a straightforward, user-friendly interface that builds confidence from the first session. As residents become comfortable with the technology, they develop transferable digital skills that can help them with everything from online banking to job searching—essential capabilities for independent living.
This digital empowerment is particularly valuable for residents who may have fallen behind in an increasingly digital society. By bridging this gap through engaging, purposeful technology use, the programme helps address a significant barrier to independence.
Era Sahni, Director of B2B Channel Partnerships at Meta Quest, highlights the broader impact of this initiative: "We were delighted to work with Apax on such an innovative project. The organisation provides valuable assistance to individuals in genuine need, and we're happy that Meta Quest is helping vulnerable people find their way back into society."
The Future of VR in Supported Housing
The success of Apax's VR Wellness initiative offers a compelling blueprint for other social and supported housing providers looking to enhance resident support. By integrating VR technology into their services, providers can offer innovative solutions that address mental health challenges, promote digital inclusion, and ultimately empower residents on their journey towards independent living.
Looking ahead, Apax is exploring additional applications for the VR technology, including staff training and enhancing residents' life skills and digital dexterity across the organisation. This forward-thinking approach demonstrates how technology can be harnessed to create more effective, person-centred support.
As the housing sector continues to evolve, embracing innovative technologies like VR will be crucial in providing effective and person-centred support. Apax's VR Wellness Initiative serves as a powerful testament to the transformative potential of this technology, paving the way for a new era of supported housing where residents are empowered to thrive.
The initiative aligns with broader government priorities to improve public services and tackle key societal challenges like homelessness and mental health. Through innovation and technology, Apax is directly supporting these government priorities, contributing to meaningful change.
Final Thoughts
The integration of virtual reality into supported housing represents a significant step forward in how we approach mental health support and preparation for independent living. By combining immersive technology with compassionate, person-centred care, Apax is creating new pathways to recovery and independence for some of society's most vulnerable individuals.
The measurable success of the VR Wellness Programme demonstrates that innovative approaches can yield tangible benefits, complementing traditional support methods to create more comprehensive care. As this technology continues to evolve and become more accessible, its potential applications in supported housing will only expand.
For those working in supported housing services, the message is clear: embracing technology can enhance, rather than replace, human connection and support. By finding the right balance between innovative tools and compassionate care, we can create environments where vulnerable adults receive the holistic support they need to rebuild their lives and work towards a more independent future.
