Dancing is good for people with dementia
Thursday 21 September 2023 is World Alzheimer’s Day, established to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia globally.
More than 55 million people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s across the world, while in the UK, according to NHS research, 850,000 people are living with dementia – making that one in 14 of those over 65, and one person in six for the over 80s.
There are many different types and causes of dementia, with Alzheimer’s perhaps the most well-known. But they all result in a variety of issues, and which can include loss of memory and mental agility, mood swings, difficulty remembering how to do everyday activities, and problems with movement.
But music and dancing have been proven to help people with the symptoms of dementia. Music can be calming and help trigger memories believed long forgotten, while dancing helps stimulate the brain as well as promoting physical health and wellbeing. And dancing is fun!
Move Momentum CEO and dance teacher, Amanda, says that many of the residents at one of the care homes for which she delivers a monthly workshop have dementia.
“We have a great workshop,” she adds. “I love seeing the residents each month and the pleasure they get from the dancing and movement.
“Some participants do all the dancing, others just like to tap or sing along with the songs and watch me.
“They all seem to enjoy themselves, though – regardless of how they engage.”
Music and dancing are also said to greatly aid in the prevention of dementia – and it’s believed that up to 40% of dementia cases could be prevented. Being physically active plays a major part in this – and dancing is a fantastic form of exercise – with dance sessions also social forums, and lack of social interaction linked to increased risk of dementia.
Move Momentum’s care home programmes are created to ensure that workshops are accessible for all residents, with each tailored to support the individual home. We also deliver workshops to other groups of older people, with content individually agreed. And our teachers are specialists in leading sessions for individuals with a number of issues, including dementia, ensuring that everyone is able to enjoy the music and movement.