why use virtual reality for dementia inclusion?
DIVE (Dementia Inclusion through Virtual Empathy) is a three-year European research project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme. Running from December 2025 to November 2028, DIVE brings together five organisations across Romania, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria and Spain.
Over 55 million people worldwide live with dementia, a number expected to triple by 2050. Yet between 80–97% of the general public, and around 65% of healthcare professionals, still hold fundamental misconceptions about the condition. Traditional training has struggled to create the deep empathetic shift needed to truly change attitudes and behaviour.
DIVE uses immersive 360° virtual reality to increase the understanding of dementia and the attitudes towards those affected by it.
the DIve consortium and aim
The consortium brings together complementary expertise: community engagement from Romania, academic and clinical excellence from Ireland, cutting-edge VR development from the Netherlands, human-centred design research from Austria, and biomedical research from Spain.
Our aim: to use immersive technology to foster genuine understanding and develop skills for empathetic interaction, shaping dementia-friendly spaces and communities.
our vision for the future
We envision a Europe where every person living with dementia can move through public spaces (shops, hospitals, transport, community centres) with dignity, confidence, and genuine support. A future where the people they encounter every day have the knowledge, empathy, and practical skills to respond well. DIVE is building the evidence base and the tools to make that future possible.
We co-design our training with people with lived experience of dementia, and we believe that research and innovation must always serve people, not the other way around.