A busload of retired Americans was touring Switzerland. On the third day, they visited a farm known for its excellent quality goat cheese. The young farmer’s wife gave them a tour, a cheesemaking demonstration, and some samples. As the retirees were tasting the cheeses, she pointed to a pasture full of goats. She said, “This is a special pasture where we let our older goats graze happily after they can no longer give milk. In the United States, what do you do with your old goats?”
A woman piped up, “Well, they take us on bus tours.”
—an anonymous voicemail message
The written mission of Theater Bus is to provide safe, affordable, escorted outings to theatrical, cultural, and social events. The unspoken mission is to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults. Theater Bus has been taking adults ages 55+ on day trips since 1976. Though we don’t tour goat farms or travel to foreign lands, we do go on day trips to fabulous plays, musicals, shows, boat tours, and more all year long. And unlike old goats, participants smile a lot, laugh, and enjoy life.
Social isolation and loneliness affect more than one-third of older adults and are common sources of distress, suffering, and impaired quality of life. Risk factors include lack of transportation, mobility impairment, untreated hearing loss, and limited opportunity to engage with others. Steps that can be taken to decrease isolation and loneliness include volunteering, community and church involvement, and taking a day trip with similar people.
Theater Bus provides safe transportation and convenient pick-up points for day trips to see matinee theatre performances and concerts that include a stop for lunch, and trips are always escorted by caring volunteers. One price includes the coach bus, ticket to a show, lunch, tips, and the opportunity to connect with new people. One Theater Bus participant shared, “Theater Bus provides me with an opportunity to go to theatre shows I wouldn’t normally have access to. It’s a great way to meet new people, and I feel very taken care of!”
Theater Bus also has fun and challenging volunteer opportunities in the office and on its committee service and board. Learn more about Theater Bus at theaterbus.org or by calling (608) 257-0003. You can also sign up for a quarterly newsletter to keep up to date on trips and new information. Great venues, buses, food, and people—that’s Theater Bus, Inc.
Ruth Hellenbrand is director of Theater Bus.
Photographs provided by Theater Bus.
THEATER BUS, INC.
(608) 257-0003
theaterbus.org