When it is challenging to leave your home, it can be beneficial to your health to bring certain activities to you, like a virtual museum trip!
A recent Canadian study showed a strong connection between a virtual museum visit and an increase in mental and physical health and a decrease in social isolation and “frailty” in a group of seniors. The biggest improvements were found in participants’ frailty scores, which refer to a “vulnerable condition exposing individuals to incident adverse health events and disabilities that negatively impact their quality of life and increase health and social costs”, according to the study’s authors.
By simply attending a virtual tour of an art exhibit and then participating in a short Q&A session with the tour guide, participants showed dramatic results in the test group when compared to a control group.
And since feelings of isolation can lead to other health complications, this activity has the potential to improve health and save lives! We hope there will be many such programs offered by museums everywhere in the future!
Hat tip: Good News Network
