Aging in place comes with many risks, but the truth is the more mobile and physical your elderly loved one is, the more independent they will be. This makes it possible to age in place safely and also means they can do things on their own for a lot longer. The more physically active someone is, the more likely they are to live a high-quality life.

Here are a few reasons why you should be encouraging seniors to dance and move their bodies every day.

Dance Helps Joints

As seniors move and exercise more, even through dance, it strengthens their bodies. When they move, it lubricates their joints and makes them less stiff. This makes it easier to move around in the future. When seniors have an easier time moving on their own they can remain more independent or need less help.

While many elderly people who age in place will have an extra set of hands to help around the house from home care helpers or family members, they still need encouragement to do as much as possible on their own. The looser a senior’s joints are, the more likely they are to have fun while dancing and feel good afterward.

Moving Helps Flexibility

Dancing often involves spinning, twirling, and moving muscles in various ways, which can help stress out areas that are not used every day. This is how it improves a senior’s flexibility. Dancing gives them a full range of motion, which helps them every single day. A senior can do more things when they remain as flexible as possible. They can bend down to pick things up, reach up more easily, and much more.

Home care workers can help remind seniors to go on walks or take a dance class throughout the week. Dancing is one of the best and most fun ways for seniors to stay moving. It can empower seniors and help them age gracefully, and it is wonderful for the body.

Dancing Allows Seniors to Express Themselves

As a senior gets older, they can’t always explain what they’re feeling. Sometimes, they become stressed and anxious when things aren’t going the right way, and this can lead to a buildup of frustrations. One of the best ways to minimize stress and anxiety is by finding ways to express feelings and work them out.

Dancing can help a senior with music that expresses things they feel and a way to share emotions through movement. A dance may be sad and slow or happy and upbeat. Each decision from your loved one is a clue into how they’re feeling. So many people love dancing for this reason. It is an art form that is expressive through movements.

Physical Activity Boosts Serotonin

You may know that one of the best ways to boost serotonin, the natural happy chemical in your body, is to move around. When seniors make the time to dance every week, they get a little boost of this chemical each time. This can help minimize stress and make seniors feel happier about their lives.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Poway, CA please contact the caring staff at A Passion for Care today. Call (858) 798-5005

A Passion for Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, Encinitas, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, Point Loma, and surrounding areas.

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Pat Melzer

Owner at A Passion for Care

Like many people in the senior care business, founder Pat Melzer was motivated by personal experience to start an in-home senior service business in 2010. After watching chronic conditions, dementia, and surgeries take over the life of her once very intelligent and lively mother-in-law, Pat saw the enormity of the need for better in-home care. Drawing on her 23 years of experience in the computer industry as a software product manager, engineering manager and computer programmer, she decided to develop best practices to build an organization that provides truly excellent, personalized care. Throughout the company’s history, Pat has been personally and professionally committed to ensuring your loved one receives the quality care they deserve. With often heroic efforts by the staff and dedicated caregivers, the vision has become a reality to be very proud of.

Making the transition to a completely new industry brought the opportunity to learn and grow, which continues still today. Pat studied Gerontology in San Diego State University’s certificate program and became licensed as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), a Home Health Aide (HHA), and completed the California Certification Program for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCCFE) as a Certified Administrator. She presented workshops at Aging in America Conference four years in a row and served as Chair of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council 2019-2020 and was the education board member for several years. More recently, Pat became a Certified Senior Advisor and was a San Diego Business Journal “50 over 50 2022 Women of Influence Honoree”.

Pat and her husband Roland have lived outside San Diego in the San Pasqual Valley for over three decades. She has two children who are grown professionals and three grandchildren. Pat enjoys traveling to, and visits from, family and friends throughout the year. While at home in San Pasqual Valley, she and Roland enjoy peaceful views and exploring the surrounding valleys.

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