Seniors with dementia find dance classes beneficial

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This article was published 15/10/2018 (2527 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the months since a Westman-based dance program for seniors with dementia started up earlier this year, 81-year-old Missie Drummond and her 83-year-old husband Dennis have only missed one session.

“It’s been very enjoyable and it gets you moving; it gets you thinking, it gets your coordination going,” Missie said.

Dennis was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease five years ago, and she said that going to the sessions both gives them both something to look forward to and helps with memory.

“It’s kind of a teaching you to remember all over again, because you have steps that she asks of you to do, and then at the end of say five or six of these different things to do they’re all combined to one and we do it all to music,” she said.

The program is the result of a partnership between Canada’s National Ballet School and the Baycrest Centre hospital for the elderly in Ontario. Sessions are held at the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba Westman Region in Brandon, the Prairie Oasis Senior Centre in Brandon, Country Meadows Personal Care Home in Neepawa and at the Minnedosa 50+ Activity Centre. The program started Sept. 12 and runs for eight weeks.

This is the second time the program has operated in Westman, and it’s part of a research project between Brandon University and the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba Westman Region.

The Drummond couple is no stranger to dancing. They’ve been married for 60 years, and once upon a time would go to teen dances together at different centres in the city, Missie said.

“We’re good (dancers),” Dennis said with a laugh.

Through the program, they’re able to keep on dancing, and also socialize with other seniors who come out to take part.

“They’re all pretty much in the same boat health-wise,” Missie said.

“People are a little hesitant at first,” she added. “Nobody really knows each other, but then you start into the program and something gets somebody laughing and then a comment will come out, and then they all loosen up. Since then, it’s just been very well that way, everybody greets each other.”

Although Dennis has been living with Alzheimer’s for a while now, Missie said that they’ve been lucky that things have progressed relatively slowly for him.

“It’s been over a year now before we’ve seen much change,” she said.

She has noticed slower reaction time and problems with memory, but she said that sometimes he will surprise you.

“You’re trying to think of a name for somebody or a job or a building and out of the blue he pops out with the correct answer, it just comes to him,” she said.

The music also helps stir up some memories of the past for the couple.

”They’re all songs that everybody seems to recall and can sing along with it as they’re doing the exercise,” she said, adding that the hope is for them to be able to attend again next year, if sessions continue.

“If our health is still good (next year) we would definitely go back again,” she said. “The whole thing is great.”

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