For Immediate Release
MENLO PARK, CA – April 15th, 2019
On Thursday, April 25th, Peninsula Volunteers, Inc. Rosener House will team up with a team of French researchers, professional dance instructors, musicians, and Stanford University to research the effect Tango has on patients of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders in a project called the “Caravan of Music”.
Chosen as 1 of just 7 sites globally, Rosener House and team will work with 20 Rosener House participants over the course of 13 weeks to demonstrate how Tango movements can prevent falls, strengthen functional capacities, and promote social engagement, thus preserving the quality of life and independence of older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease.
The “Caravan of Music” project is based on pioneering 19th century photographic analysis of movement by Etienne-Jules Marey and was more recently expanded to study the therapeutic advantages of movement at the Sports Sciences of University of Bourgogne (Burgundy). Using movement of everyday life, requiring dynamic balance, weight transfer, support and posture, Tango music and dance is being used to provide non-drug therapeutic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative disorders. A film will be produced on this project as it goes world-wide by ABB Reportages of Dijon, France.
Barbara Kalt, Rosener House Director, stated, “Rosener House already has an extensive music program, including Music Therapy. Adding the adapted Tango sessions where staff members and volunteers will be dance partners for our participants, will be another wonderful way to enrich the Rosener House program.” PVI is currently raising funds needed to provide its share of logistical support to the researchers.
About PVI
For over 70 years, PVI has provided high quality and nurturing programs for aging seniors on the Peninsula. PVI provides programs, support and guidance for seniors in the community to allow them to pursue long and useful lives. As life expectancy lengthens, communities need to embrace both opportunities and challenges to help aging adults maintain their dignity, independence and sense of usefulness. PVI provides innovative services including affordable senior housing, Meals on Wheels, Rosener House Adult Day Services and Little House, the Roslyn G. Morris Activity Center. 1pvi.org
