Tenants at Levy Gardens Assisted Living are now able to travel the world without leaving home.

Jewish Family & Community Services is providing them with virtual reality (VR) goggles weekly. They have already enjoyed walking with elephants, swimming with dolphins, and taking a hot air balloon ride. They’ll be able to do that and more, such as skydive or travel to places they’ve wanted to visit or revisit.

Virtual reality offers mental health benefits to battle depression, anxiety, and isolation that seniors experience, said Ken Bielecki, JFCS executive director.

The virtual reality headsets were purchased for $12,000 through a $20,000 grant for senior mental health outreach from the Mahoning County Mental Health and Recovery Board.