Reduces social isolation and loneliness
The project, funded by the Vilnius City Municipality, is aimed at residents of the capital aged 65 and over. One hundred and twenty project participants will take part in weekly sessions in small groups with museum educators-psychologists during October and November. During these sessions, seniors will visit different city art spaces and gain knowledge on how art can help improve well-being, manage emotions, self-awareness, and expand their circle of new friends, according to a press release.
The project, which has become ongoing, received great engagement and success in previous years – participants shared that they especially valued the opportunity to experience calmness during the sessions, acquire tools to cope with anxiety and other negative emotions, and find a sense of community.
“Older people are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, facing both loneliness and discrimination. Loss of work capacity and the resulting change in society’s attitude, loss of loved ones, deteriorating health – experiences that cause significant psychological challenges, which over time can lead to various stress-related health problems.
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Art acts preventively in this context – by creating an open, safe, and non-binding space moderated by educators with psychological education, we encourage the formation of long-term relationships, empower people to visit cultural spaces more confidently, and provide basic tools to understand and reflect on their emotions,” says museum director Milda Ivanauskienė.
Healthcare institutions also join
This year, some of the largest personal healthcare institutions in Vilnius are joining the project. Their patients will be able to learn about the project and receive necessary information during visits to family doctors.
Clinic directors note that employees of these institutions are often the first to recognize the emotional difficulties experienced by seniors. As Dr. Audronė Juodaitė Račkauskienė, director of Antakalnis Clinic, states, various studies show that older people lacking social connections may visit doctors more often not only for physical health but also due to unmet social interaction needs.
“The family doctor’s office often becomes one of the first places where changes in not only physical but also emotional well-being of seniors are noticed. Regular contact with the doctor allows attention to be drawn to changes in behavior, mood, or social situation and to identify problems that the person may not yet talk about. Loneliness in older age can also significantly affect both emotional and physical health, so it is very important to notice in time that a person lacks not only treatment but also connection with others,” says Dr. A. Juodaitė Račkauskienė.
The director of the Center Clinic, Laima Skrickienė, in turn, points out that various activities for seniors usually reach proactive older Vilnius residents who seek and willingly participate in them. However, such activities are especially needed for those who lack the opportunities or skills to independently find relevant support measures.
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“By offering to join these activities and providing necessary information, medical professionals can significantly contribute to reaching people. Emotional health is inseparable from overall well-being, so it is very important to have opportunities to communicate, discover, learn, and experience new things. Such initiatives contribute to improving the emotional health of older people, and the family doctor’s team can play a very important role here – informing about such opportunities and encouraging patients who might not seek them out themselves to take advantage of them,” says the clinic director.
The project – a long-term initiative
While implementing the project, the museum also collaborates with the Vilnius City Municipality Public Health Bureau, Social Prescription coordinators, and other organizations uniting older people, contributing to participant recruitment.
During the sessions, seniors visit not only the museum but also other city cultural spaces – the Vilnius Museum, the National Martynas Mažvydas Library, and the Vilnius Children and Youth Gallery. Artworks become a medium to talk about their experiences and feelings, share insights, learn to listen, and accept different perspectives.
Project participants are invited to register for the sessions until September 15. The first meeting in small groups will await them on October 1. It is hoped that this will be the beginning of long-term friendships, an opportunity to find like-minded people, and become more frequent visitors to cultural institutions even after the project ends.
