Parkinson's patients dancing with "fun, humour and camaraderie"

Tuesday 15 February 2022

Dance is helping to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease for a group of sufferers working with an Artist in Residence appointed by the Committee for Health & Social Care.

Since September last year, Vanessa Mee has been leading the dance sessions for people with Parkinson’s, their carers and those who have lost loved ones to the condition.

Terry March, a former chair of Parkinson’s Guernsey who also lives with the condition and organises the weekly support group, said that dancing has been a "fantastic initiative which has seen lots of camaraderie among the group".

"It has enabled us to exercise with fun and humour and has been very good for helping with balance, which is always a challenge for those with Parkinson’s," said Mr March at one of the sessions yesterday. 

"We have also had a couple of people participating in wheelchairs, which has been great to see. And it has helped us with breathing as Vanessa started the sessions with some breathing exercises." 

Theresa Brennan, who also has Parkinson's, was another participant yesterday.

"I am not a dancer, but I do love to dance. It makes me happy and less stressed and I intend to continue with it," said Ms Brennan.  

Pictured: The final dance workshop of the pilot scheme took place at the KGV yesterday.

The sessions have been run on a pilot basis. The last one - held at the KGV yesterday morning - was attended by around 15 people. Ms Mee hopes that similar initiatives will follow as more people see the benefits of the arts on physical health.

For example, dance can benefit sufferers of Parkinson's because it enhances motor function through stretching, stepping and balance.

The Committee for Health & Social Care's Artist in Residence role is run in partnership with The Guernsey Institute, where Ms Mee is a lecturer in performing arts and education. 

She currently spends one day a week working with the Parkinson’s Clinical Nurse Specialist, Debbie Robilliard, and her colleagues in pain management to develop the role of the arts in supporting health and wellbeing.

The dance-themed Parkinson's support group is one of the first initiatives developed by Ms Mee and Ms Robilliard.

Pictured: Debbie Robilliard, Clinical Nurse Specialist for Health & Social Care, helped develop the dance workshops.

Ms Robilliard was delighted with the response to the pilot scheme, noting that people of all abilities were getting active and enjoying dancing. 

“I have watched people struggle to control their shake or walk across the room and then it all disappears when they start to dance. It’s amazing to watch and see their smiles,” said Ms Robilliard.

“I have seen improvement in concentration, co-ordination and movement but most importantly their wellbeing. It’s an absolute privilege to be part of this and seeing some of the transformation has been brilliant.

“We are looking at ways we might be able to carry this on.”

Pictured: Vanessa Mee put on the dance workshops as pilots and hopes to deliver more arts-based therapies throughout health and social care services.

The Artist in Residence scheme will also help develop a specialist course for artists interested in working within healthcare. The course will be offered by The Guernsey Institute from September.

Speaking at the time of her appointment, Ms Mee said: “I’m really excited to be working in partnership with [Health & Social Care]. I look forward to exploring the benefits of performing arts on health and wellbeing and delivering several pilot projects. 

“Additionally, I will be able to share my practices with students of art, performing arts, sport and health and social care at The Guernsey Institute as well as my peers in the arts sector.”

Lottie Barnes, Culture, Arts and Health Manager at the Committee for Health & Social Care, said the new partnership would make art more accessible for patients and staff.

“The development of a course in arts and health to be delivered by The Guernsey Institute will support the long-term growth of the field of arts and health in Guernsey,” said Ms Barnes.

The Committee said these developments are consistent with its Partnership of Purpose in promoting non-clinical interventions in supporting health and wellbeing. The Partnership, approved by the States in 2017, aims to transform health and social care, including through more integration between care providers and focusing on preventive and support measures in the community. 

Pictured (top): The dancers of the Parkinson's support group enjoying themselves at the KGV yesterday.