DAZL work with the elderly from the Anchor Trust

Over the past few months DAZL has been delivering a dance program in partnership with the six Leeds based Anchor Care Homes. This project works with older people who are living with dementia headed up by the DAZL Dance Facilitator Amy Smith and Community Dance & Health Practitioner Stephen Johnson. Assisting these two artists have been the DAZL Dance and Health Officer Apprentice Harvey Pratt and DAZL Dance Leader Kaci Emmonds.

The DAZL team have have absolutely loved working with the residents and the wonderful caring and supportive staff from the Anchor Trust. The residents have really responded well to the weekly dance for fun sessions and to date we have engaged around 120 older people throughout the six care home in Leeds.

Moving forward DAZL plan to continue this partnership delivering dance and from January we plan on deliver an intergenaerational project with the older people from Anchor and young people from DAZL. This will will also be evaluated by Leeds Beckett University of which it will be published in a academic journal highlighting the impact dance has on dementia and older peoples overall health and wellbeing.

Below is a statement from Jo Bailey, Anchor Wellbeing Coordinator

 In later life, maintaining movement is key, and a huge part of wellbeing and healthcare.  However,  this is not always easy to achieve.  For people living with Dementia, it is the little things that count, or in the case of DAZL, the fun things.

A bunch of enthusiastic, skilled, caring dancers, DAZL are an absolute joy.  The way they interact with the residents, we have found it is almost impossible to resist joining in, whether resident, carer or visitor alike.

Having had the pleasure of their company for many visits now I can safely say that the impact they have had on our residents has been both positive and profound.  I returned to one home the day after  DAZL had visited and was greeted with conversations and smiles regarding the previous day’s events. Such recollections are, regrettably, rare so for the DAZL team to have achieved this was praise indeed.

I would, without hesitation, recommend the concept and of course DAZL to other care homes or anyone who is living with Dementia or caring for somebody who is.

Kind Regards – Jo Bailey, Wellness Coordinator Anchor

For more information on the Anchor Trust please visit  https://www.anchor.org.uk/

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