Brandon University has partnered once again with Baycrest, Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) in Toronto, and Trent University to bring the ‘Sharing Dance Seniors Program’ back to Manitoba as part of a research initiative.

Baycrest is a leading research centre and long-term care facility focused on the aging population. Baycrest and NBS joined their efforts together to develop more programs and opportunities for adults with dementia.

‘This project is part of a larger study funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research called Improving Social Inclusion for Canadians with Dementia and Carers through NBS Sharing Dance.’

The research project examines the experiences of participants, the effectiveness of its delivery, and the challenges of expanding and sustaining the program.

“Too often, people living with dementia struggle with isolation, particularly in rural areas,” said Dr. Rachel Herron, a Canada Research Chair at Brandon University. “’Baycrest NBS Sharing Dance Seniors’ can provide opportunities for people living with dementia – and their caregivers – to socialize with others in the community. We are grateful to our community partners who are welcoming the public to join together with other seniors in this wonderful program in both community-centre and personal-care-home settings.”

Dr. Herron is excited to see the pilot program return to the Westman Region, with expansion to this year’s schedule. The NBS is interested in expanding the program across Canada, having seen the benefits over the past 2 years, with its beginning stages in Brandon in January of 2018.

“Brandon was the first place to actually pilot the program being delivered remotely to people living with dementia in the community. We’ve then expanded it to Minnedosa and Neepawa Personal Care Homes."

"This round,” she adds, “we’re expanding it to even more sites, so the public is invited; people living in the community as well as people living in personal care homes.”

The program is being delivered in various communities including Carberry, Minnedosa, Brandon’s Prairie Oasis, Killarney, Hamiota, and Neepawa.

“So, it’s really quite an expansive round this time and we’re hoping, as the research partners on the project, to get more participation and collect more information on the impact of the program for older adults, and particularly those living with dementia, and their care-givers.”

“There’s a lot of research around what dance can do for cognitive help, balance, mood and more,” she says. “This is a seated program that lasts 45 minutes and runs for 8 weeks, starting the week of April 22nd.

She believes the program has the potential to help change the way people perceive those who are living with dementia. However, the program is beneficial to a wider population.

“I should say this program is not just for people living with dementia,“ says Herron. “But, it’s a program that is accessible to people with varying degrees of physical and cognitive impairment. So, it’s meant to be inclusive for older adults.”

Information collected during these phases of the study will help in the development of future programs and policies for seniors and their care-givers.

“It’s been absolutely amazing across the different phases of the project, just to see the impact that this has had on people who are attending the dance program,” says Dr. Herron. “So, it’s been a really rewarding research project to be involved with.”

Interested participants can call their location of choice to reserve a spot in the program.

- Mondays at 10 am (Starting April 29): Carberry Personal Care Home, 340 Toronto St. Contact: 204-834-2144

- Wednesdays at 10:30 am (Starting April 24): Minnedosa Personal Care Home, 138 3rd Ave SW. Contact: 204-867-2569.

- Wednesdays at 1:30 pm: Prairie Oasis, 241 Eighth Street, Brandon. Contact: 204-727-6641

- Classes are also taking place in personal care homes in Neepawa, Hamiota, and Killarney for residents and family only, not open to the public.