What if, even in the most limiting and uncertain moments of serious illness, a person could still experience freedom, movement, beauty, and a renewed sense of meaning?

In this episode, Kathleen Benton and Virtual Reality (VR innovator Teri Yarbrow reveal how virtual reality is reshaping Hospice and Palliative Care by restoring something often lost in modern medicine—human experience.  As care becomes increasingly clinical and documentation-driven, VR creates space for patients to reconnect with meaning, beauty, and identity beyond their diagnosis.

The impact is rooted in how the brain responds to immersion.  Through presence (feeling transported), embodiment (shifting out of “patient” identity), and agency (regaining choice), VR helps reduce pain and anxiety while restoring a sense of control.  For patients who can no longer travel, move, or explore, these experiences are not trivial—they are transformative.

The stories are powerful.  A Hospice patient skydives.  An ALS patient explores space.  A fragile palliative care patient surfs and leaves with renewed energy.  Each moment underscores a critical insight: when experiences are thoughtfully matched to a patient’s emotional state, VR becomes a form of care—not just distraction.

At its deepest level, this work is about awe.  The feeling of encountering something bigger than ourselves—oceans, stars, vast landscapes—can bring peace, perspective, and even spiritual grounding.  Through VR, awe becomes accessible at the bedside, reminding patients that even in limitation, there is still room for connection, beauty, and meaning.

Highlights:

• VR is emerging as a powerful tool in Hospice and serious illness care
• Three mechanisms drive its impact: presence, embodiment, and agency
• Real patient stories demonstrate measurable emotional and physical benefits
• Matching VR experiences to patient needs is key to effectiveness
• Awe is not a luxury—it’s a therapeutic necessity at the end of life

Show Transcript

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www.magikavrx.com

Cedars Sinai

Virtual Reality in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

Our Host