Teaching the Elderly

Think of your most inspiring teacher. What personality qualities did he or she have? I ask this questions at training seminars for health care professionals who work with the elderly. Of the many traits that are named, understanding the students needs, empowerment and passion stand out. I remember a particular teacher I had once who I felt really understood where I was coming from. I trusted her. Her encouragement was empowering and her passion for the material contagious. What does this have to do with working with the elderly? Everything!
Once the student (the elderly in our case) feels understood he or she will trust, bond with and try to understand the leader. The trust will allow the student to feel at ease in following the leaders directions. The belief the teacher has in the student will be accepted and so the student becomes empowered. The teachers passion and joy of the subject (activity) is mirrored by
the class. This whole process is called empathic engagement. Empathic engagement is the basis of the teaching approach for the Benevolent Ballet program.

More on Engaging the Elderly

The residents of the assisted living facility had been gathered for a official meeting. It was my turn to try and involve the group in my exercise program. Knowing that recent studies show as many as three quarters of the residents of assisted living have some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s I understood that the group might be resistant to a new activity and a new face. Immediately a few began to leave. Coaxing them back with the promise of music and relieving the fear that they might be challenged with something new by telling them that they can just watch. I promised them that would like the music so much that they might want to join in and move with it. As they music played, I called their attention to it by saying, “Listen!.....Good music, isn’t it?” Making eye contact with each individual (especially the ones I suspect have dementia of some sort), I move with the music expressing the joy of it. Soon, with a bit more coaxing and for the lowest level of functioning, some warm one on one, hand to hand and heart to heart, the group is fully engaged!

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