On Engaging the Elderly in Exercise Programming
Posted: Tuesday, May 08, 2007
by Sheila Lehner
Benevolent Ballet-Fall Prevention for the Elderly
We all know the importance of exercise to improve health, prevent falls and improve the overall qua
The development of an exercise program inspired by classical music and movement created a means by which the elderly (even those afflicted with Alzheimer’s or other dementias) would be lured into active participation. Along with the exercises an inviting, non-threatening approach had to be developed. After all, there are a multitude of reasons why the elderly especially the frail elderly are reluctant to participate. These include but are not limited to:
 depression
 fear of failure
 fear of pain
 medication
 anger
 frustration
 confusion
 fatigue
Based on the concept of Empathic Engagement this approach looks at the causes of apathy and non-participation. With an understanding of the aging process and the conditions which often accompany aging we may know how the prospective participant might feel about taking part in activities especially something new. For the memory impaired any activity may seem like having to learn something new! It is much easier to just say “No†then to risk failure, frustration, pain or simply the unknown. Empathic Engagement is a concept in which the teacher or leader feels or knows what another is feeling and reacts appropriately to produce the desired result. In the case of the elderly person who might be apprehensive all effort must be made to make him or her feel safe, non-threatened and loved. As for the person who never participates in any activity an invitation to “Just sit in the back and watch.†works. Assuring the group that they will not be asked to do anything they are not capable of also does the trick. Interestingly, this empathy goes both ways. That is to say, the participant often will absorb the leader’s attitude and reflect it back. For example when the leader emits a warm, friendly or joyful feeling the group will often “catch†these feelings and mirror them. It is true that a smile is contagious. With the group at ease the teacher shares her enthusiasm for the music and movement. The class gets pulled into the experience and returns the teachers joy.
The program is called Benevolent Ballet-Fall Prevention for the Elderly. With a teaching approach that fully integrates beautiful music, exercise and empathic engagement the class has a mind/body experience and is magically transformed.
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