Baycrest

BrainMatters FALL/WINTER 2018 21 Baycrest's pilot research on the dance sessions showed an increase in physical movement, social engagement, participation and expressions of pleasure, and that participation was observed in individuals with various levels of cognitive and physical functioning. The research also showed evidence of increased personal connection between staff and residents, and an improved mood among participants that persisted beyond the program itself. Dancing is one of the best workouts for brain health. It combines physcical excercise, cognitive engagement and social engagement. The Baycrest NBS Sharing Dance Seniors initiative not only offers dance classes to long-term care residents at Baycrest, it has also begun providing this therapeutic dance program through on-demand video streaming from NBS into long-term care homes and community centres around the country. Facilities may choose from one of two streams: a program developed for older adults with dementia or one designed for active seniors, which offers more challenging choreography for those living independently in the community. Baycrest and NBS have also developed a teacher training program to provide experienced dance instructors with the foundational knowledge and skills to facilitate dance within their own communities. Baycrest's expertise in seniors' healthcare combined with NBS's excellence in dance programming and teacher training provides a meaningful and safe dance program for this population. The training program teaches dance instructors how to work with people with dementia, why dance is beneficial to seniors and how it is an excellent avenue for communication. The workshop is also being developed into an online program for dance instructors through a variety of learning media, including video components, interactive e-learning modules and opportunities for reflection and feedback. Through this initiative, Baycrest hopes to extend the reach of dance to seniors across Canada and beyond. "Dance is an art form and a way of expressing oneself that should not be seen as only for young people. It's more than physical exercise, it's an emotional experience," says Tafler. "There are so many health benefits of dance – physical, emotional, mental and social – that reach beyond the health challenges an individual may have." If you would like to find out more about the Baycrest NBS Sharing Dance Seniors, please contact Baycrest's Culture and Arts Department at culturearts@baycrest.org. Behind the Scenes at Canada's National Behind the Scenes at Canada's National Behind the Scenes at Canada's National Behind the Scenes at Canada's National Ballet School Ballet School Ballet School Ballet School Each year, the Women Friends of Baycrest (WFB) Each year, the Women Friends of Baycrest (WFB) Each year, the Women Friends of Baycrest (WFB) Each year, the Women Friends of Baycrest (WFB) participate in fundraising for one of the programs participate in fundraising for one of the programs participate in fundraising for one of the programs participate in fundraising for one of the programs at Baycrest. This year, they chose Culture and Arts at Baycrest. This year, they chose Culture and Arts at Baycrest. This year, they chose Culture and Arts at Baycrest. This year, they chose Culture and Arts programming at Baycrest as the recipient of their programming at Baycrest as the recipient of their programming at Baycrest as the recipient of their programming at Baycrest as the recipient of their fundraising. The group attended a fundraising. The group attended a fundraising. The group attended a fundraising. The group attended a Behind the Scenes Behind the Scenes event at Canada's National Ballet School where event at Canada's National Ballet School where event at Canada's National Ballet School where event at Canada's National Ballet School where they toured, met student dancers, participated they toured, met student dancers, participated they toured, met student dancers, participated they toured, met student dancers, participated in a workshop and viewed a rehearsal. "The Jack in a workshop and viewed a rehearsal. "The Jack in a workshop and viewed a rehearsal. "The Jack in a workshop and viewed a rehearsal. "The Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation is very proud of the Weinbaum Family Foundation is very proud of the Weinbaum Family Foundation is very proud of the Weinbaum Family Foundation is very proud of the groundbreaking work done at Baycrest," says Carol groundbreaking work done at Baycrest," says Carol groundbreaking work done at Baycrest," says Carol groundbreaking work done at Baycrest," says Carol Weinbaum, daughter of the late Jack Weinbaum, Weinbaum, daughter of the late Jack Weinbaum, Weinbaum, daughter of the late Jack Weinbaum, Weinbaum, daughter of the late Jack Weinbaum, whose foundation has helped to support the dance whose foundation has helped to support the dance whose foundation has helped to support the dance whose foundation has helped to support the dance program since 2016. "We are delighted to help fund program since 2016. "We are delighted to help fund program since 2016. "We are delighted to help fund program since 2016. "We are delighted to help fund Baycrest's collaboration with Canada's National Ballet Baycrest's collaboration with Canada's National Ballet Baycrest's collaboration with Canada's National Ballet Baycrest's collaboration with Canada's National Ballet School to improve the quality of life of our growing, School to improve the quality of life of our growing, School to improve the quality of life of our growing, School to improve the quality of life of our growing, School to improve the quality of life of our growing, School to improve the quality of life of our growing, School to improve the quality of life of our growing, School to improve the quality of life of our growing, aging population." aging population." aging population." aging population." aging population." aging population."

• Cover