Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme company spotlight: Recreo VR

August’s Mindset-XR Innovation Support Programme spotlight shines on Recreo VR and its pioneering solution, Accessible VR for Socially-Isolated People in Care. Co-designed with people living with dementia, the platform uses virtual reality to reduce social isolation, enhance wellbeing, and support person-centred care across health and social care settings.

Recreo VR provides easy-to-use VR headsets that enable people in care to revisit meaningful places and experiences. Its safe, engaging, and person-centred content has been specifically developed for care homes, hospices, hospitals, and local authorities. Care staff can deliver both individual and group sessions, with new content introduced every eight weeks based on user feedback and requests.

In this spotlight, co-founders, Sam Rooker and Alex Lancaster share the story behind Recreo VR discussing how the organisation is using immersive technology to transform care experiences and improve outcomes for people who need them most.

Why is there a need for a solution like yours?

Older adults, particularly those living with dementia, often experience significant social isolation and limited access to meaningful activities. This can lead to increased distress and agitation, resulting in a greater reliance on “as-needed” (PRN) medication, which is administered to manage symptoms when they arise rather than as part of a regular treatment schedule.

Recreo VR aligns with two of the three NHS shifts: analogue to digital, by embedding tech-enabled care into daily activity provision; and sickness to prevention, by supporting non-pharmacological wellbeing interventions.

It also addresses workforce pressure by giving care staff a scalable, simple tool that requires no technical expertise.

Why did you decide to create a VR solution for people living with dementia?

Recreo VR started with co-founder Sam’s nana. She had dementia, was in a wheelchair, and had stopped speaking. When Sam and his grandad took her to the beach, something changed. She smiled, pointed, and tried to talk to them for the first time in months. The place itself, the sound of it, brought her back to them briefly.

She died in 2015, but that afternoon shaped everything that came next. Most people living with dementia can’t get to the places that matter to them. Sam wanted to find a way to bring those moments to them instead.

Co-founder Alex had spotted that existing VR wasn’t built for older adults. Controllers were confusing, menus overwhelming, and content designed for young gamers. We joined the Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator Programme, co-designed the service with people living with dementia, and built Recreo around what actually works in a care setting.

How has Recreo VR grown since it was founded, and what key milestones have you achieved?

From a standing start in 2021, Recreo VR now supports more than 100 care organisations across the UK, including national care groups, hospices, local authorities, and independent providers.

Our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society through its Accelerator Programme helped shape the service and remains a key part of our journey. Since then, we have developed content partnerships with organisations such as the National Trust, been recognised in Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports as an example of good practice, and are currently involved in live NHS studies in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and in Cambridge and Peterborough.

How could your innovation tackle inequalities in mental health?

Care home residents, particularly those living with dementia, are among the most digitally excluded groups in the UK. By designing a service specifically for their needs and delivering it through care staff at no cost to residents, we are helping bring the benefits of digital wellbeing to a population that is often overlooked by mainstream health technology.

We raise awareness through peer-to-peer recommendations, regional care manager networks, and the Alzheimer’s Society network, helping more care providers discover how immersive technology can support wellbeing, social connection, and person-centred care.

What have been some of Recreo VR’s most significant milestones and achievements to date?

Key milestones include completing the Alzheimer’s Society Accelerator Programme and undertaking a formal evaluation involving more than 100 people living with dementia, with the findings subsequently referenced in independent research published by the University of Leeds.

We have also been recognised as an example of good practice in Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection reports, secured Innovate UK funding to develop an at-home dementia VR solution for informal carers, and achieved adoption by major care providers including Barchester Healthcare, Order of St John Care Trust, and Country Court Care.

What evidence do you have of the impact Recreo VR is having on people living with dementia?

The Alzheimer’s Society evaluation demonstrated strong engagement among people living with dementia, which is particularly significant given the recognised challenges of engaging people with advanced dementia in group activities. Care providers report that Recreo VR sessions can help reduce agitation, support residents who spend more time in their rooms, and create meaningful shared experiences for family members visiting loved ones.

Are you currently involved in any research or evaluation projects?

Yes. Live NHS feasibility and service improvement studies are currently underway in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and in Cambridge and Peterborough. These studies are capturing structured outcomes data using the RE-AIM evaluation framework to better understand the impact and scalability of the service.

What type of support are you seeking most from readers to help drive your project forward?

We’re always interested in connecting with individuals and organisations that share our vision. If you’d like to find out more about our work, discuss potential collaborations, or explore how extended reality could benefit your organisation, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Email: info@recreovr.co.uk