Dancing With Care: Promoting Social Inclusion Among Older Women in China Through a Novel Preventative Care Model

Abstract

This article examines how a new form of preventative care provision—dancing with care (DWC)—promotes social inclusion among older women in China and explores whether DWC can be regarded as an effective way to address the challenges these older women face in improving their social inclusion and achieving a healthy lifestyle. Our study demonstrates that various dimensions of DWC play a vital role in addressing the difficulties these older women encounter in their struggle to end their own social exclusion: These dimensions include levels of happiness, social network involvement, access to social support in “preventative care terms”, and the role of own’s grandchildren as a means to social bonding. Various dimensions of DWC align with the concept of preventative care for older women in urban communities. Using semi-structured interviews in selected “DWC communities” located in southern China, this article demonstrates that DWC contributes to addressing older women’s social inclusion by providing preventative care. In addition, we also performed an empirical data analysis that included institutional regulations for DWC design and implementation, publications by DWC communities, and academic research focused on DWC communities. DWC proposes an appealing path for older women to actively engage with and within their community. Furthermore, it offers valuable insights into the potential of a new model of preventative care and our conclusions will serve as a reference for enhancing social involvement among older individuals globally.