Pilot of a Tailored Dance Intervention to Support Function in People With Cognitive Impairment Residing in Long-Term Care: A Brief Report

Abstract

Older adults who live in long-term care settings are at risk for functional decline, which may be mitigated by regular exercise. Using a single-group repeated measures design, this pilot study explored the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of a Waltz-based dance intervention delivered to 13 Canadian, English-speaking, long-term care residents with mild to moderate cognitive impairment. The findings supported intervention feasibility, based on a high completion rate (93%), level of attendance ( M = 7.15 of 10 sessions) and level of engagement during dance sessions ( M = 1.75 to 1.97 out of 2.00). On average, residents perceived dance sessions positively, and staff and family participants ( N = 26) rated them as somewhat acceptable overall ( M = 2.37, 0 to 4 scale). Additional research is needed to assess intervention efficacy in a larger sample.