Hospice Savannah, in conjunction with Live Oak Public Libraries, is offering a year-long series of seminars titled Aging in Place to tackle various aspects of aging and hospice care. The seminars are free and open to the public.

Virtual Reality for Serious Illness is a groundbreaking new book co-authored by Kathleen D. Benton, PhD, MA, President and CEO of Hospice Savannah, and Teri Yarbrow, MFA, MS, President and CEO of MagikaVRx.

Dr. Benton will discuss the various ways virtual reality can be used to treat hospice and palliative care patients, and Healthcare Outreach Educator Kellie Whelchel will hold demonstrations.

A recent breakthrough in healthcare, virtual reality (VR) is a fully immersive experience that allows users to explore and interact with virtual spaces through a device worn on the user’s head. To date, there have been over 19,000 case studies and research papers conducted on the use of VR in healthcare, and it has been proven successful in hospitals, health centers, and for in-home palliative care.

In describing palliative care as an interdisciplinary approach to treating serious illness, the focus shifts from end-of-life care to improving quality of life. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control show that over 20% of Americans suffer from chronic pain, 36% of whom are experiencing high-impact pain. These statistics underscore the need for innovative therapies like VR, which can disrupt the pain-anxiety cycle and help patients rediscover moments of joy and human connection.

“This book is about finding meaning, purpose, and peace for the seriously ill through innovation and compassion,” says Dr. Benton. “Virtual reality has the potential to not only reduce physical discomfort but also help patients transcend their diagnosis to reconnect with the joys of living.”

The Virtual Reality seminars will take place on Tuesdays in April starting April 8th at the Bull Street Library and continue at different Live Oak Library locations throughout the month. The Aging in Place series will continue throughout 2025 with different topics each month. For more information, visit liveoakpl.org or hospicesavannah.org.