How Dancing can Improve your Quality of Life and Health

Did you know that dancing could save your life? It’s true, the health benefits of dancing for seniors range from improving your physical health to creating strong social connections that increase social activity and get them more involved in the community

Dance isn’t just a social activity. It can help senior express their emotions, which can be rare for older generations, and work through trauma and stress. Dance is now often being used to treat conditions ranging from eating disorders to depression.

Physical Benefits

As you age, your body loses muscle mass, coordination, and balance, making you more likely to fall and injure yourself in the course of everyday activities. Dancing can help counteract this decline.

It’s been found that dancing improves strength and muscle function in older adults, as well as increasing balance and flexibility, leading to better stability and fewer injuries. Dancing can also improve your cardiovascular health, which will decrease your chances of developing heart disease.

The impact on your health doesn’t stop with the dancing itself. Once you become physically active, research has shown that you are more likely to engage in other healthy behaviors. This could include keeping up with medication, engaging in social activities, and eating a nutritious diet, all of which will improve your quality of life and health as you age.

Happy Calgary Seniors

Social and Emotional Benefits

Keeping you physically strong isn’t the only benefit dancing provides. It can also improve your social and emotional health. The majority of senior agree that dancing helped them become more involved in their communities, encouraged them to participate in charitable and group activities, and provided a space for self-expression and personal development.

Even among seniors with poor mental health, dancing can make a difference. Social dancing, studies have found, improves positive feelings, behavior, and communication among patients with dementia.

Cognitive Benefits

Maintaining strong cognitive health is key for seniors. A study indicated that contemporary dance improved concentration and the ability to control shifts in attention for most seniors. Researchers hypothesized this was because contemporary dance, in particular, emphasizes improvisation, rather than memorizing a specific set of movements.

Participating in dance improves the quality of life of people with Parkinson’s, particularly those in nursing homes or senior living communities.

Conclusion

If you’re thinking about maybe trying dancing, DO IT! It’s great for your physical, mental, and cognitive health, plus you may just love it. On top of all of those benefits, you might even meet a new friend or two in the process.

If you have any concerns or would like some help living more comfortably at home or booking an in home visit, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-866-982-2737 and speak with some about setting up an at home care assessment today.

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