Rendever has secured nearly US$4.5m from the NIH to expand social VR that tackles isolation in older adults and supports caregivers.
The Boston-based company says the funding includes US$3.8m for its Thrive At Home Program and a separate grant to build a caregiver support network in VR. VR (virtual reality) delivers computer-generated, shared experiences.
Rendever plans studies assessing whether VR strengthens relationships across living settings, reduces isolation and improves mental health. It will also evaluate caregiving tools, including its Dementia & Empathy training.
The work continues with the University of California, Santa Barbara, and adds new partnerships with RAND and home care provider Right at Home to bring the technology into the home care market.
“Our Phase II trial has shown the power of VR to effectively build and enhance family relationships across distances – even across country lines. The future of ageing depends on technology that effectively reshapes how we experience these core parts of the human experience as we get older,” said Kyle Rand, Rendever’s CEO. “We know there’s nothing more holistically impactful than our social health. Over the next three years, we’ll work across the industry to build the next generation of community infrastructure that delivers real happiness and forges new relationships, all while driving meaningful health outcomes.”
Rendever notes earlier NIH-backed work found significant reductions in family stress and depression after a four-week social VR intervention, with larger effects reported in families navigating dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Alongside the grant news, Rendever has appointed Sarah Thomas to its board. Thomas is an AgeTech strategist and venture partner who has helped companies launch products for older adults and develop new membership models.
“I’m honoured to join Rendever’s Board at a pivotal moment for AgeTech adoption,” said Thomas. “Virtual reality is proving its power to combat isolation, improve mental and cognitive health, and elevate quality of life for older adults. I look forward to helping scale Rendever’s impact across senior living and into the home – advancing clinically-validated, engaging, and accessible VR experiences that enable older adults to live fuller, healthier, more connected lives.”
