How a caregiver's story is shaping virtual reality training

When his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Ron Beleno stepped into caregiving with only love, determination and instinct to guide him. In the long days that followed, he discovered how to calm confusion, build trust through simple routines and preserve dignity in the smallest acts of care.

Those lessons became his compass, and years later, his experience has found new purpose. Today, Ron is using what he learned as a caregiver to work with researchers at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and collaborating domain experts, helping them design technologies that truly understand caregiving—shaped not just by data, but by the human realities behind it.

Innovation grounded in real life

Ron became an expert by experience on the VR‑SIM Carers project through our Aging in Place Challenge program. The VR‑SIM Carers platform gives users a safe space to practice responses, make mistakes and learn, all while keeping humanity at the core . The virtual reality training platform is co-designed by researchers from our Medical Devices Research Centre (MD), Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences (Ontario Shores), Ontario Tech University, Baycrest Centre, Sinai Health System and the Toronto Dementia Research Alliance.

"Collaborating with experts by experience, like caregivers and older adults, keeps our research grounded," says Patricia Debergue, Director of the Aging in Place Challenge program. "It reminds us that every piece of technology we develop has to work for real people, in real homes, under real pressures. That's the foundation of all our aging in place projects, each one pairs researchers with experts by experience so lived insights guide design from the very beginning."

To ensure the project reflects real caregiving experiences, the team has also taken the VR-SIM Carers platform into the community through a series of roadshow demonstration events and knowledge-sharing opportunities. From the Alzheimer Society of Montréal to Baycrest and the Toronto Public Library, caregivers and families have been able to experience the technology firsthand and share their feedback.

Design shaped by real caregiving moments

Working with a caregiver like Ron is adding a critical perspective to the project. His first‑hand knowledge, from emotional strain to the importance of empathy, has shaped key design decisions for the virtual reality training.

"It matters deeply to me that these tools feel supportive rather than purely clinical, because this collaboration helps make care more practical and compassionate," Ron says. "By weaving lived experience into research, we're shaping empathetic solutions that empower care partners to help loved ones age at home with dignity."

Ron's feedback helped the team adjust tone, pacing and dialogue to better mirror real interactions. His insights also guided the focus on emotional resilience, not just technical skill.

"Ron helped us think beyond the technology," says Nushi Choudhury, Senior Research Officer at MD. "He reminded us that caregivers using this tool are often under tremendous stress. His feedback allowed us design for building confidence and compassion, not just competence."

Virtual reality guided by lived reality

At MD, researchers are exploring how virtual reality can do more than train, it can foster caregiver empathy and resilience and has the potential to diminish caregiver burden. The VR‑SIM Carers platform gives users a safe space to practice responses, make mistakes and learn.

"Our goal is to make this training feel as real and supportive as possible," says Amer Burhan, co-lead on the project at Ontario Shores. "Caregivers can practice handling challenging situations in a safe environment. That's where empathy and innovation meet."

For Ron, participating in the project offers both purpose and connection, knowing his journey is helping others prepare for the challenges of caregiving.

The VR‑SIM Carers project shows how our co‑design approach blends scientific expertise with lived experience to create innovations that are practical, inclusive and compassionate.

As the project moves from research into real‑world use, the team is preparing a hybrid knowledge summit that will bring caregivers, partners and knowledge users together to celebrate the launch of the VR-SIM Carers program. It ensures that real voices, the ones that helped shaped this technology, remain central as it moves into real‑world care.

By connecting researchers directly with caregivers and older adults, our aging in place initiative reflects the realities of daily life, helping Canadians age safely and independently.

"I feel a profound sense of purpose bringing the lived expertise I gained while caring for a parent who lived with Alzheimer's to help co-design immersive dementia training," Ron says. "Being part of this project makes me feel heard and valued. Knowing that my personal journey can ensure new technologies are grounded in the real, everyday realities families face is incredibly meaningful."

The Aging in Place Challenge program is funded by the Collaborative Science, Technology and Innovation Program, which helps the NRC partner with experts from across the innovation continuum to deliver game-changing technological advances for the benefit of Canada.