We think you can dance! A pilot randomised controlled trial of dance for nursing home residents with moderate to severe dementia

Objectives 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. Design Pilot randomised controlled trial with assessments at weeks 0, 16 and 32. Setting A nursing home in Sydney, Australia. Interventions: Experienced dance teachers conducted dance groups (intervention) or music appreciation and socialisation groups (control) for 45 min, three times a week for 16 weeks. Main outcome measures 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.