While most of us can head back to the local pub and enjoy the return of good old Sunday quizzes, some people are still stuck at home. And research shows that online cultural activities, such as museum tours, can significantly improve the mental and physical health of homebound seniors. “Our study showed that art-based activity can be an effective intervention,” said Dr. Olivier Beauchet, a professor at McGill University in Montreal and lead author of a study published in Frontiers in Medicine. Social isolation and loneliness, which are often more pronounced in the elderly, are as damaging to health as long-term illness and can lead to premature death. Successive lockdowns during the pandemic made matters worse. The researchers suggest that just one virtual trip to the museum per week could enhance social inclusion and improve the physical and mental well-being of older adults. The team recruited 106 community-dwelling adults aged 65 and over to investigate the potential health benefits of art-based activities. Half of the participants attended weekly online museum tours followed by informal discussion, while the other half did not participate in any cultural activities before or during the three-month study period. People who took part in the tours reported improved feelings of social inclusion, well-being and quality of life, as well as reduced physical frailty, compared to those who did not attend the tours. More than 2 million people aged over 75 live alone in England and more than a million say they sometimes go for more than a month without any social contact, according to the charity Age UK. “This study shows that with adequate infrastructure, age-friendly access and technical support, digital technology can benefit the mental health and well-being of older people,” said Professor Yang Hu, of Lancaster University. However, the necessary technical guidance is often lacking, which is why virtual contact has made seniors feel more alone than no contact during the pandemic. “Unfortunately, the elderly are often left to their own devices to navigate their use of technology,” Hu said. Unprepared and prolonged digital exposure could lead to stress and burnout in people who are not familiar with the technology, he added. Dr Snorri Rafnsson, from the University of West London, said: “With sufficient support, the potential to scale up this kind of intervention is great.” However, not everyone has access to online resources and activities. “There are huge barriers for older people living in the community – lack of internet, knowledge and support, financial issues and so on,” said Rafnsson. “Studies show that those who have family around them and a supportive social network are more likely to adopt and use online technology.”
