We remember it very well from the first confinement. Mandatory weekly Zoom contests and streaming of cultural events happening online.
While most of us can head back to the local pub and revel in the return of good Sunday quizzes, some people are still stuck at home. And research suggests that online cultural activities, such as museum visits, can significantly improve the mental and physical health of older people who are confined to their homes.
“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 acute in older people, are as bad for health as a long-term disease and can lead to premature death. Successive lockdowns only during the pandemic made things worse.
The researchers suggest that just one virtual trip to the museum per week could foster social inclusion and improve the physical and mental well-being of older people.
The team recruited 106 adults aged 65 and older who lived in the community to investigate the potential health benefits of art-based activities. Half of the participants attended weekly online tours of the museum followed by an informal discussion, while the other half did not participate in any cultural activities before or during the three-month study period.
People who joined the tours reported better 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 over the age of 75 live alone in England, and more than a million say they sometimes go more than a month without any social contact, according to the charity Age UK.
“This study shows that with proper infrastructure, age-friendly access and technical support, digital technology can benefit the mental health and well-being of older people,” said Professor Yang Hu, from Lancaster University.
However, the necessary technical guidance is often lacking, which is why virtual contact left older people feeling lonelier than without any contact during the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, older people are often left with their own devices to navigate their use of technology,” Hu said. Prolonged and unprepared digital exposure could lead to stress and burnout in people unfamiliar with technology, she added.
Dr Snorri Rafnsson, from the University of West London, said: “With the right support, the potential to scale up this type 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 problems, etc,” Rafnsson said. “Studies show that those who have family around them and a supportive social network are more likely to adopt and use online technology.”
