NATUREACH – Nature Reachable for All

The aim of the project is to make nature accessible to everyone through specially designed virtual nature experiences. There are groups in society who, for various reasons, cannot get out into nature. At the same time, there is a need, a demand and an increased interest in including nature-based interventions in social care and health care, as a complement to traditional treatment and rehabilitation. The project will combine the latest VR/digital technology, multidisciplinary research and expertise in care and health services and local nature entrepreneurs, to collaboratively create innovative service models with natural environments and multi-sensory experiences to promote individual health and well-being in a sustainable way.

The design of the virtual nature-based interventions, and in the future entire service models, will be based on the collaboration between health and care professionals, local entrepreneurs and researchers from six Swedish and Finnish universities in the field of Nature and Health.

The interventions will, in the project, be used in five different client groups in northern Sweden and Finland. The groups are:

• clients with impaired physical, mental and/or intellectual functioning,
• patients with eating disorder problems,
• patients in palliative care,
• patients with type 2 diabetes in need of lifestyle changes,
• older people in elderly care.

In all units, health professionals will be involved in the interventions. In all groups, the clients' mood and physiological response after the intervention will be evaluated and documented.

The aim is also to allow the region's healthcare providers to gain first-hand experience of working with digital nature-based interventions. After the project, they will be able to use the newly developed service models and, in further collaboration with local VR and nature entrepreneurs, expand and improve them further.

Planned results:

• Innovative and effective nature-based digital service models to promote health among vulnerable client groups with special needs.
• Support for occupational health by creating easy-to-use recovery tools for health and care professionals to reduce stress-related symptoms and to support recovery during and even after demanding work shifts.
• Improved research and innovation capacity and implementation of advanced technologies in health and social care organizations, SMEs and research units in the project area.
• Public benefit by developing cost-effective and sustainable service models that improve human well-being, bioeconomy, green and responsible business and regional development.
• A strong, active and collaborative Nordic Finland-Swedish research cluster focusing on the relationship between nature, well-being and digital service innovation from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Research at Luleå University of Technology

Work package 3 focuses on pilots/tests of virtual nature experiences with customers.

Work package 3.5 is the responsibility of Luleå University of Technology together with employees at the University of Vaasa and Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki.

The focus is to make nature available to older people in the elderly care homes in Övertorneå municipality. The elderly will take part in nature experience with VR glasses and / or screens based on the wishes of the elderly. A variety of nature films will be available such as from different seasons, from the forest, farm, river and more. Together with the staff, the older person chooses a nature film to take part in the nature experience for 5-15 minutes per session.

Subsequent reflection discussions are conducted by the researchers with the elderly, staff and, where possible and desired, the elderly's relatives. Physiological measurements such as heart rate and pulse will be made during the pilot. Staff will also be offered the opportunity to take part in virtual nature experiences as a relaxing and restorative activity during breaks or close to the end of the working day.

Data collection methods will be qualitative as well as quantitative.

Project team

Project team at Luleå University of Technology:

• Päivi Juuso, project manager
• Johan Jirlén, technology manager
• Åsa Engström, project member
• Jeaneth Johansson, business expert

The research team also includes:

• Catharina von Koskull, Assistant Professor, Hanken School of Economics Vaasa/Helsinki
• Johanna Gummerus, Professor, Hanken School of Economics

At Övertorneå Municipality participates:

• Agneta Rautila, unit manager in elderly care, Övertorneå Municipality
• Robert Raabymagle, IT manager at Övertorneå Municipality