Moving Together - Online Dance Intervention for mental and physical health in older adults

Moving Together uses dance to bring people and communities together to create value for older adults experiencing loneliness, in particular those affected by social isolation exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our project targets the older adult population (65+ years of age), as they are at great risk for compounding mental and physical health problems as a direct result from self-isolation and sedentary behavior (Figure 1)(1). The relationship between mental and physical health is well documented (2,3). The project develops a series of online (remote) and in-person dance workshops to decrease isolation and increase motivation for physical and social activities, thereby strengthening overall mental health and improving Quality of Life (QoL) through joyful and social physical activities. The project is developed in coordination with Aalborg Municipality, Den Rytmiske I Nordkraft (DRN) and the Foreningen for Integreret Moderne Dans i Danmark (FIMD), an organization dedicated to promoting dance and social integration through workshops that bring people and communities closer together. The project builds on a current PhD.-project at Aalborg University on dance and movement training with older adults by evaluating the effect of dance training on loneliness. We believe a more holistic evaluation will enable researchers and clinicians to address loneliness directly, while also identifying key factors that influence motivation, participation, and ongoing involvement with physical activity, which may eventually lead to sustainable, long-term solutions for loneliness.

3 months of online dance improved physical and mental parameters in older adults