The study stated that virtual visits make community-dwelling older people feel less isolated and thus improve their mental health.
Published Aug 18, 2022 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 18, 2022 | 8:00 AM
The virtual visits make the elderly feel less isolated and foster a sense of connectedness. (Creative Commons)
A study suggests that older adults can be mentally and physically healthier by taking virtual museum trips.
According to the study published in Frontiers of Medicine, a virtual trip to a museum reduces the increased risks of stroke and other heart-related diseases.
According to the researchers, such trips can also prevent premature deaths.
The study stated that virtual visits make community-dwelling older people feel less isolated, foster a sense of connectedness, and, thereby, improve mental and physical health.
“Our study showed that art-based activity may be an effective intervention. On a global scale, this participatory art-based activity could become a model that could be offered in museums and art institutions worldwide to promote active and healthy ageing,” said lead author Dr Olivier Beauchet, a professor at the University of Montreal, in the study.
“If there is technology intervention to improve the health of a patient, it’s great news. But, we should also understand that in a third-world country, where our elders are not well equipped and do not have an understanding of technology, it’s hard for them to navigate,” Dr S Srinivas Naidu, a geriatric specialist in Hyderabad, told South First.
“Also, long use of digital technology can lead to some other forms of stress,” he added
To conduct the study, researchers from Canada teamed up with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) to investigate the potential benefits of conducting weekly virtual visits for three months
The study recruited 106 people aged 65 years and above. Half of the participants attended guided tours online once a week, while the other half — the control group — abstained from participating in any cultural activities during the same period.
The intervention group showed significant improvement in social integration, well-being, quality of life, and frailty assessment scores when compared to the control group, according to the paper.
“The biggest benefit of the 45-minute virtual museum tours, which also included a 15-minute Q&A session at the end with a museum guide, was frailty. Frailty is a vulnerable condition exposing individuals to adverse health events and disabilities that negatively impact their quality of life and increase health and social costs,” Beauchet explained.
“These (museums) are suitable locations that reach a great number of people. Organisations can partner with museums to participate in public health research and practice development. Museums are aware of the needs of the communities and are consequently offering various kinds of activities,” he added.
