Dance hailed as treatment for dementia

A PROJECT encouraging elderly patients with dementia to take up dancing has been hailed by NHS Lothian.

Health chiefs recruited Edinburgh organisation Dance Base to visit the Royal Victoria Hospital and take people with the disease through routines.

The new style of treatment for dementia patients is increasingly popular and has been found to boost patients' health and wellbeing.

NHS Lothian occupational therapist Sarah Whyte said: "Both the staff and patients found the sessions provided by Dance Base to be a really positive experience.

"Patients who had not otherwise engaged in meaningful activities certainly seemed to come out of their shell in the groups, and it allowed them to reveal their personalities which, for people with dementia, is something that can be hard to get an insight into or for the patient to have the chance to display.

"It was an absolute joy to have the dance groups every week, and this experience has shown us that seated dance is an invaluable activity."