Tafta launches South Africa’s first immersive, age-friendly Virtual Reality platform

We’re proud to introduce the Virtual Reality Empathy Platform (VREP) – South Africa’s first immersive, technology-driven solution designed to transform age-friendly care.

Through advanced virtual reality and lifelike empathy filters, VREP enables caregivers, health professionals, care teams, and environment designers to experience life as older person navigating sensory, cognitive, and physical challenges. The platform allows you to step into a virtual world of mobility challenges, failing eyesight and hearing loss, and experience the confusion of dementia.

Experience the realities of ageing – first-hand

“Dementia and ageing affect more than memory or mobility – they touch every aspect of daily life,” says Femada Shamam, CEO of Tafta. “VREP allows professionals to experience these realities first-hand, turning empathy into actionable insight. By seeing the world through the eyes of older people, we can design environments and care practices that truly empower them to live safely, independently, and with dignity.”

By simulating these real-life challenges in a safe, controlled environment, VREP moves beyond awareness. It equips participants with practical insight into how spaces, systems, and approaches to care can be adapted to enhance independence, safety, and quality of life.

From empathy to action

The entire Tafta workforce has already experienced the platform – building a shared, practical understanding that informs the organisation’s age-friendly initiatives. The software is being contextualised for South Africa by independent developers, while the Tafta team is facilitating immersive VR sessions for community members through Social Worker support groups for dementia.

“Experiencing the visual impairment of glaucoma, together with the effects of dementia, was an emotional experience for me,” said Social Worker Analisa Naidoo. “It gave me insight to be more understanding, compassionate, and empathetic – and to translate that understanding into real-world care improvements.”

A new standard for age-friendly innovation

VREP will be available through corporate workshops facilitated by Tafta Consultants, as well as Corporate Innovation Licences for independent use by architects, hospitals, property developers, and construction firms.

By combining immersive technology with practical transformation tools, VREP positions Tafta as a national leader in age-friendly design innovation … a transformation partner for the corporate and built-environment sectors … and a commercial innovator promoting sustainable impact.

For more information or to book your VR experience, please contact Yvette Govender at vrep@tafta.org.za