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Who said the silent disco was only for the youth of today?
The same concept is now being used as a form of physical and mental therapy in aged care and more recently a trial has been completed measuring the impact of this on dementia patients.
The trial, which was funded by the NSW Government’s Livable Community Grants, has been operating in three Feros Care Villages in the Northern Rivers for approximately 12 months demonstrating that people of any age can get the groove on.
The after-class effects are amazing. Moove and Groove program organiser Alison Harrington said ‘one lady who hardly ever speaks a word, for an hour after class she was going around talking fluidly to everyone’.
With agitation and frustration being common among dementia suffers, after a silent disco session patients feel far more settled and behavioural issues are observed to be reduced for the rest of the day.
During October, special Disco-tober sessions were held at Feros Care across Byron Bay, Bangalow and Kingscliff Villages, with participants and their immediate families joining in the interactive Moove and Groove silent disco. Donning headphones they were able to be immersed in music and, movement and sing to many golden favourites from The Andrews Sisters, Dean Martin, Elvis and many more memorable classics. Residents, staff and seniors really enjoy being a part of these fun-hour-filled sessions.
DiscoDtours is looking to expand its trial to more residential-care centres and also looking to start a drop-in weekly seniors group in Byron Bay.
For more details, please contact www.discodtours.com.au.
