title: We think you can dance! A pilot randomised controlled trial of dance for nursing home residents with moderate to severe dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of a dance program for people with moderate to severe dementia living in nursing homeswith regards to recruitment and retention, assessment tools, intervention safety, attendance and engagement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot randomised controlled trial with assessments at weeks 0, 16 and 32.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nursing home in Sydney, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experienced dance teachers conducted dance groups (intervention) or music appreciation and socialisation groups (control) for 45min, three times a week for 16 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistics for recruitment and retention, adverse events and attendance and engagement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recruitment was smooth, attrition was17% over 32 weeks. Engagement during the sessions was high, and no serious falls or behavioural incidents occurred. Average attendance was poorer than anticipated for dance groups (67%) in comparison to music groups (89%). A ceiling effect on the Severe Impairment Battery and the logistical challenges of the Clinical Global Impression of Change meant they may not be optimal tools.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is feasible to conduct a study of group dance for people with moderate to severe dementia in residential care. Choice of attention control condition should be reconsidered.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: lee-fay.low@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Low
authors.affiliation: Arts Health Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merom
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry Research and Teaching Unit, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kochan
authors.affiliation: School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Australia; The George Institute for Global Health, Australia.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Australia; Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, Assessment and Better Care, University of New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brodaty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003615:Dancing / Q000502:physiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: Cognition; Dance; Dementia; Exercise; Nursing homes