The Role of Virtual Reality in Chronic Pain and Loneliness: Narrative Review.

According to data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the global proportion of the population aged 65 years or older reached 10% in 2025, far exceeding the 7% threshold that defines an “aging society” by UN standards, indicating that population aging has become a global trend. Against this backdrop, building an efficient and inclusive older adult care system has become an urgent task for social development worldwide. In response, many countries have introduced policies and regulations to underscore the leading role of governments in the development of older adult care services. For example, China issued the Opinions on Deepening the Reform and Development of Older Adult Care Services; the United Kingdom enacted The Care and Support Regulations 2025; and Japan implemented the Long-Term Care Insurance Act. All these measures emphasize the importance of government leadership and institutional guarantees. The price and quality of older adult care services are critical factors influencing the development of the “silver economy.” However, in practice, many older adult care facilities struggle to achieve sustainable operations due to high operating costs and relatively low service quality. Meanwhile, although there is strong potential demand for home-based older adult care services among the older population, a significant gap exists between effective demand and actual consumption behavior, constrained by factors such as insufficient ability to pay and uneven service quality. Government subsidies, as an important intervention tool, are expected to play a dual role in improving service quality and alleviating price burdens.