The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, IL, was a popular trip destination for long-term care facilities, senior communities and their residents prior to the coronavirus crisis.
Then, the pandemic changed everything. No trips. No anything — for the museum workers or residents.
But now the museum has since adapted and started offering virtual programming to allow activities coordinators to keep residents entertained and busy while still in isolation.
“Any way we can reach this valued population, [the museum is] excited to do it,” Bernadette Marty, group tours associate, told McKnight’s. “I want them to still have access to our wonderful museum.”
The museum recently launched a virtual tour of its popular exhibit, “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” The virtual tour, which runs about an hour, is offered through its Zoom account and features a video presentation on Ginsburg’s journey and a Q&A session with museum personnel afterwards.
“I know how valuable and important these in-person outings have been for the guests that I’ve encountered. While we can’t see one another in person, I hope that this access to our program still allows our message to filter out among potential guests,” Marty said.
Photo by Robert Wedemeyer.
She explained that activity coordinators can reach out to the museum to set up a virtual tour just as they did with in-person meetings. Even if they reside hundreds of miles away and never could have visited in person previously.
“Guests can virtually visit The Notorious RBG exhibition from the comfort of their own homes. All they need to do is have access to a computer and the internet and they can log into these programs,” Marty said.
“This Zoom platform does allow for smaller groups to engage with one another and see one another,” she added. “It does allow for an opportunity for interaction among members of the group.”
The virtual program runs through Jan. 3, 2021.
