The Elderly's Perception of the Impact on Mood, Socialization, and Mobility as a Result of Late Onset Visual Impairment: Implications for Dance/movement Therapy

The hypothesis of this study was that dance movement therapy, because of its body basedapproach and techniques facilitating interaction, relatedness, emotional expression, andexpanded movement repertoire, will benefit this population by decreasing socialisolation, depressive states, and inactivity, thus potentially increasing the elderly personwith visual impairment quality of life. The study focused on the following researchquestion: How does the elderly with late onset visual impairment perceivedance/movement therapy to affect their mood, social functioning and mobility? Thisstudy was a single-case study with one participant who was elderly, experiencing lateonsetvisual impairment, and without serious medical and mental illnesses. Theparticipant took part in a pre-intervention interview and questionnaire, sixdance/movement sessions, and a post-intervention interview. The results appear tosupport the hypothesis. Dance/movement therapy appeared to increase the participant’ssocial functioning, positive mood, and mobility. The study suggests thatdance/movement therapy could an acceptable and beneficial intervention for the visuallyimpaired elderly in the areas of social functioning, mood, and mobility.M.A., Creative Arts in Therapy -- Drexel University, 201