Algrange: A virtual reality headset offers a high-flying journey to the nursing home

The relaxation areas of the Belvédère retirement home were transformed into adventure playgrounds. Residents took turns sitting in paraglider seats, offering the sensation of gliding above the clouds. To top off the experience, they donned virtual reality headsets, allowing them to admire a 360-degree landscape above the clouds and explore the Algrange Valley like birds in the sky!

Sophie, 95, reaches up to the sky, trying to touch the clouds.

Laurence, 68, tilts her head back, admiring the inflated sail of her paraglider. Anne, 70, recognizes the path through the streets of Algrange that she used to take to get to the grocery store. Joëlle, 68, is looking for the roof of her house, with its small garden and swing where her children used to play. Eléa, 13, Bastien's daughter with dozens of hours of paragliding experience, is very moved. "You won't see that, because we're too high up," warns Nora, the host.

It was a paragliding enthusiast who loves to share his feelings of freedom in the sky who came up with the idea of ​​letting residents of a nursing home fly in virtual reality. To make this experience accessible to as many people as possible, Bastien Mercier developed a completely removable piece of equipment. This system consists of a harness (seat), straps, and handles to adjust the harness's inclination, just like in a real flight. "All that's missing is the wing! Then we can take off!" exclaims Bastien.

Nora, the host, was pleasantly surprised by the residents' enthusiasm after the previous day's event. "I didn't expect such a strong response from our community," she said. "The seniors were thrilled with the opportunity to get away and see their city from the sky."

Bastien, the paraglider, now aims to install his paragliding simulator in the children's wards at Bel-Air Hospital. He wants to give hospitalized children a flight above the clouds or in the mountains.

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