Dance Wherever You Are: The Evolution of Multimodal Delivery for Social Inclusion of Rural Older Adults

Abstract

Background and Objectives Older adult social inclusion involves meaningful participation that is increasingly mediated by information communication technology (ICT) and in rural areas requires understanding of older adults’ experiences in the context of the digital divide. This paper examines how the multi-modal streaming (live, pre-recorded, blended in-person) of the Sharing Dance Older Adults program developed by Canada's National Ballet School (NBS) and Baycrest, influenced social inclusion processes and outcomes in rural settings. Research Design and Methods Data were collected from on-site observations of dance sessions, research team reflections, focus groups and interviews with older adult participants and their carers in pilot studies in the Peterborough Region of Ontario, and the Westman Region of Manitoba, Canada (2017-2019). There were 289 participants including older adults, people living with dementia, family carers, long-term-care staff, community facilitators, and volunteers. Analytic themes were framed in the context of rural older adult social exclusion. Results Remote delivery addressed barriers of physical distance by providing access to the arts-based program and enhancing opportunities for participation. Constraints were introduced by the use of technology in rural areas and mitigated by in-person facilitators and different streaming options. Meaningful engagement in dynamic interactions in the dance was achieved by involving local staff and volunteers in facilitation of and feedback on the program and its delivery. Different streaming technologies influenced social inclusion in different ways: live-stream enhanced connectedness, but constrained technical challenges; pre-recorded was reliable, but less social; blended delivery provided options, but personalization was unsustainable. Discussion and Implications Understanding different participants’ experiences of different technologies will contribute to more effective remote delivery of arts-based programs with options to use technology in various contexts depending on individual and organizational capacities.

Impact of the mediated role of employee morale on innovative work behavior in context of healthcare sector; Pakistan

“…Social cohesion is also helpful for the goals and objectives of a team as well as employees' teamwork that result in the accomplishment of goals and targets (Shore & Chung, 2022). In contrast, Kosurko also claimed from their study that focusing on goals and objectives tends to play an essential role to bring innovation to their work and ideas that will help them to improve the reputation of their company (Kosurko et al, 2022).…”

Enhancing Neuroplasticity Is Urgent: Music and Dance for the UN/WHO Decade of Action for Healthy Ageing for All

“…Depression in people with MCI and dementia was reduced with dancing [120]. Traditional dances of India improved balance and motor skills more than neuromuscular training in "children with Down syndrome" [121]; the benefits of dance can also be facilitated remotely [122].…”