Belle Isle Senior Days Offer Older Adults a Chance to Visit Aquarium
Blues Perspectives
| 2 min read
For three days in September, the Belle Isle Conservancy and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan are partnering to offer a socially distant and safe way for seniors to enjoy a visit to the Belle Isle Aquarium. Senior Days at the Belle Isle Aquarium will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 10, 17 and 24. Seniors will have the opportunity to visit the aquarium, enjoy the aquatic displays and take in recently completed renovations at the historic site. This will be the first time the aquarium has opened to any visitors since it closed due to COVID-19 safety concerns. “We are thrilled to be able to coordinate an event like this for seniors with the hope of bringing some fun for our senior community who might be homebound during this time,” said Jorie Wyatt, corporate and special events planner, Community Responsibility, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Summer Ritner, chief operations officer, Belle Isle Conservancy and director, Belle Isle Aquarium, said aquariums have been found to be relaxing - the act of watching fish float and move through their aquatic environments has been shown to lower blood pressure and can even have meditative properties. Ritner is thrilled to get people back in the aquarium, especially seniors, a population in need of safe recreational opportunities due to their higher risk for complications from COVID-19. “We thought seniors could really benefit from our fish and from having an activity outside of the house that they could engage in,” Ritner said. Many precautions are being taken to ensure a safe experience for seniors, who are in a higher risk category for developing serious complications from the novel coronavirus. Attendance on senior days will be limited so that visitors can enjoy the exhibits while keeping their distance. Masks will be required at all times. Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the building and six-feet markers will be strategically placed to encourage social distancing. Time slots can be reserved online at belleisleconservancy.org. Registration for each Thursday event will open the Friday before at 10 a.m. – reservations are required. Find more details and reserve your time slot for Senior Days at the Belle Isle Aquarium at belleisleconservancy.org. To ensure the safest experience for seniors, children will not be allowed to accompany grandparents on senior days.
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