Waltzing across the dance floor with an elderly partner is not only a delightful experience but reaps numerous health rewards, from improving cardiovascular health to increasing social interactions. The health benefits of moving the body gracefully or simply swaying back and forth are plentiful.

When the music starts, older adults respond in various ways. Some silently bob their head with the rhythm while others glide across the floor in an exuberant show of agility. Dancing expresses emotion, strengthens the physical body and releases pent-up energy.

What are the health benefits of dancing for seniors?

Dancing involves more than physical movement, which is invaluable in itself. Moving the body to the music stimulates cognition and emotion in the elderly. As both an art and a sport, dancing delivers a range of benefits to older people, including the twelve that follow.

1. Accessibility and Safety

Dancing is accessible to seniors. Music and a floor are all they need to get up and start dancing. Although it is a rewarding physical activity, dancing does not feel like exercise. Plus, dance moves are varied, thereby producing fewer injuries than physical activities that are repetitive.

2. Improved Cardiovascular Health

Protecting oneself from cardiovascular disease can be achieved through dancing regularly. While moving the body, older adults’ heart rates increase to pump more oxygenated blood to the muscles. An increased heart rate strengthens the heart and conditions the heart muscle.

3. Enhanced Balance

Every move, step, and turn demands the use of a senior’s balance. The swing of the arms and the hop of the feet change their base of support. As these occur, the body and brain respond to maintain balance. Balance training also improves seniors’ reaction times, thereby preventing falls.

4. Better Cognition

Dancing involves memorizing steps, whether it is for the cha-cha or line dancing. Brain activity increases when aging people jog their memory and remain focused on the steps. Making split-second decisions and the neuroplasticity that is created by dancing improve older adults’ cognition.

5. Greater Strength

While dancing, seniors’ muscles resist their body weight. As a result, they build muscle strength in nearly every part of their body. Older adults who dance frequently are consequently better able to complete everyday tasks with less risk of injury. Increased movement is linked with better movement ability.

6. Opportunities for Socialization

The social health of seniors is as important as physical and emotional health. Dancing is an opportunity for the elderly to be involved with the community and meet new people; this is especially the case when they participate in group dances, such as Zumba or line dancing.

7. Decreased Stress

Dance music can soothe, inspire, and help seniors reminisce. Doing the waltz or tango with a partner takes their minds off everyday worries. Plus, dancing releases a feel-good chemical in the brain, known as endorphins, which improves mood and counters depression.

8. Dementia Defense

Exercise has long been touted as a defense against the risk of developing dementia. As a cardiovascular exercise that requires split-second decision making, dancing challenges the neural network. The aging brain forges new pathways and reduces the chance of cognitive decline.

9. Increased Agility, Flexibility and Energy

Aging naturally decreases the body’s ability to move agilely. Dancing reverses this and helps seniors move more quickly and easily. By keeping the joints loose, dancing allows seniors to move more with less physical discomfort. Older dancers produce serotonin and endorphins, which help them feel energized.

10. Opportunities to Reminisce

As mentioned, dancing provides seniors with an opportunity to travel back to happy times, whether that is their first high school dance or a jubilant wedding. Dancing helps older people recall fond memories and gives them a chance to savor the joys again.

11. A Chance to Express Oneself

Seniors with advanced dementia struggle with expressing themselves through words. Dance, however, is a way for them to express their emotions and engage with others without a need for verbal communication. Aging adults who express themselves through movement feel empowered.

12. Emotional Closeness

Alzheimer’s disease can make it difficult for older people to connect with caregivers and loved ones. But by dancing with them, a feeling of emotional closeness arises. The emotional bond achieved through dancing is exceptionally rewarding for seniors living with dementia.

Companion Care Assisting Hands

Whether your aging loved one is new to dance or is a lifelong dancer, regular dancing delivers exceptional health benefits. The compassionate caregivers from Assisting Hands Home Care also help the elderly stay physically, socially, and emotionally healthy through attentive in-home care.

Our caregivers provide safe transportation and escort to places like the doctor’s office, senior center, or dance classes. In addition, we provide help with everyday tasks. We offer personal hygiene assistance, healthy meal preparation, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, and medication reminders.

Senior companionship is vital to keep care recipients from feeling isolated or lonely. Caregivers serve as pleasant companions who keep seniors socially stimulated with games, conversations, outings, and hobbies. We even turn on the music and dance with seniors to help them stay socially engaged.

Assisting Hands Home Care is trusted by countless families and their aging loved ones living in Boynton Beach, BallenIsles, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Singer Island, Wellington, West Palm Beach, and the surrounding communities. We keep seniors connected to their communities through quality companion care. Call us at (561) 566-5989 to schedule a free in-home consult today and learn about dependable senior care.