Healthcare

Creative Aging

BodyWise Dance designs movement classes to meet the physical and emotional needs of patients and caregivers in hospitals, day centers, assisted and independent living residences.

Caregiver Training: movement interventions for healthcare 

A METLife study has proven that people who experience artistic engagement (especially dance) while in a hospital setting ask for less pain medication and nursing assistance, heal faster, and have a lower case of recidivism. People with intellectual and physical disability who participate in BodyWise Dance programs report:

Mr. K's shoes

Mr. K: artist and dancer living at the DC VA Medical Center

  • ELEVATED MOOD
  • ENHANCED MEMORY
  • INCREASED PHYSICAL INDEPENDENCE
  • FALL REDUCTION
  • BETTER DIGESTION AND DEEPER SLEEP
  • INCREASED ABILITY TO PERFORM ACTIVITIES FOR DAILY LIVING

Learn simple movement interventions for one-on-one and small group sessions. Focus on ways to personally improve patient-centered care. Understand adaptations for people with Alzheimer’s and other neurocognitive diagnosis, hearing and visually impairment, and physical limitations.

Who is this training for?
VISN 3 Symposium

Training VA medical professionals

Healthcare professionals > physicians, nurses, gerontologists, and healthcare administrators

Ability service providers > direct-care staff, activity directors, volunteers, administrators

Arts and humanities professionals > artists, arts administrators, art therapists

Family > friends, caregiving support networks

Leaders > in age-friendly and faith-based communities, parish nursing, activists

Veteran’s and military service agencies > individuals, and networks

Move, Learn, Create

This dance class encourages Increased mobility, social engagement and rhythmic accuracy. Featuring social dance styles, popular music, conversation, and hand-to-hand partnering, the class is a well-paced and refreshing experience for elders age roughly 80 – 100 with limited physical ability and neurocognitive diagnosis. Using both follow-the-leader and inquiry-based approaches, instructors brings participants into the world a dancer; mastering movement and making unique dances together. Caregivers often join the class to both learn about their patients and enjoy the benefits of dancing themselves. *Currently offered at Knollwood Military Retirement Residence and MVLE.