• A total of 116 seniors have already participated in the program, which is sponsored by València Innovation Capital and the Valencia Public Health Center
• The program, aimed at people over 60, is organized in collaboration with six museums: the Museu Faller, the Natural Science Museum, the MHV, l’ETNO, the Centre del Carme, and the National Museum of Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts

Between October 2023 and April 2024, 116 older adults visited six museums in the city in small, guided groups as part of the “Receta Cultura” project, which was launched by the City Council through València Innovation Capital; and the Regional Ministry of Health, through the Valencia Public Health Center. This is a program of visits that have been “prescribed” by primary care providers as a “treatment” for situations of unwanted loneliness and physical inactivity among the participants.

As Paula Llobet, the councilor for Innovation, explained, “78% of these people were women, with an average age of 75, who had completed elementary school and lived alone.” Llobet emphasized that “with this pilot program, our goal was to address two of the most common issues people face as they reach a certain age—and which require close monitoring—namely, physical inactivity and unwanted loneliness.” Technical staff from nursing, medicine, and social work evaluated potential candidates for the program at six health centers in the city and recommended implementing this “Culture Prescription,” prioritizing people over 60 who were experiencing these issues. The participating centers are Azucena, Miguel Servet, Fuente de San Luis, República Argentina, Salvador Pau-Chile, and Serrería I.

Conclusions

The results presented during the conference show “that professionals in the cultural sector represent a significant asset in the healthcare field, as their educational work in this pilot program has been fundamental to its success.” According to the project organizers, the role of healthcare staff—who accompanied older adults on the visits—in providing support and facilitating group dynamics also contributed to this success.

As for the participants, three months into the pilot program, an improvement in their social-emotional well-being had already been observed, which was reflected primarily in a better mood and greater motivation to leave the house and socialize. By the end of the project, these benefits had been reinforced, and the percentage of people who reported feeling lonely had decreased significantly.

València Innovation Capital

The “València Innovation Capital” strategy, developed by the City Council’s Department of Innovation, aims to foster a dynamic, diverse, and creative city that serves as the leading hub for technological innovation in the Mediterranean. This strategy promotes public-private partnerships, acts as a catalyst for the city’s innovation and technology entrepreneurship ecosystem, and seeks to generate high-quality, highly skilled jobs in Valencia.

“Technology is the ‘how,’ and people are the ‘why,’” emphasized Councilwoman Paula Llobet, who explained that València Innovation Capital “is committed to solving the city’s real problems through local innovation that is effective and has a direct impact on people’s lives.”