University of Queensland

Research Report on Olive Express 

Authors: 
Associate Professor Gabby Walters, Professor Nancy Pachana and Miss Yufan Liu, University of Queensland, Dec 2024

Abstract:

Despite the known benefits of travel to healthy aging and quality of life, many seniors and members of our aged care communities have ceased participating in travel because they are simply not able to do so. Between August and September 2024, a research team from the University of Queensland looked at how immersive travel experiences could affect the well-being and social engagement amongst seniors at residential aged care facilities. With a pilot study conducted with Olive Express and a number of Bupa Aged Care sites in Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales, the researchers looked at addressing the following five questions:

1. How did the Olive Express incite anticipation and excitement among aged-care residents before, during and after the experience?

2. Did the Olive Express elicit social engagement with other residents during and after the experience?

3. Did the Olive Express elicit nostalgic memories about previous travel experiences?

4. Did aged care residents feel more interested in travel and learning about other cultures and countries after the virtual trip?

5. How did the Olive Express journey influence the aged-care residents’ emotional state?​​