Preliminary evidence that greater usage of digital exercise and music resources relates to fewer incidents of distress among older care home residents.

Citation

Watt C, Connelly J, Hapca S & Whittaker A (2026) Preliminary evidence that greater usage of digital exercise and music resources relates to fewer incidents of distress among older care home residents.. Journal of Gerontological Nursing.

Abstract
Purpose: to evaluate the impact of digital exercise and music on distress incidents and usage of pro re nata (PRN) medication in older adults aged 65+ years in care homes. Methods: danceSing (a digital exercise and music platform) was delivered in seven care homes who provided data for six months on distress incidents and PRN medication usages; danceSing provided platform usage data. Poisson regressions considering month, site, and home occupancy examined whether hours usage predicted distress incidents or PRN medication use. Results: hours per month use of danceSing significantly related to reduced frequency of distress incidents but not PRN medication use. For every hour increase in usage of the digital platform per month there was a 4% decreased risk of incidents. Conclusions: digital exercise and music may reduce distress among care home residents. A longitudinal study should examine whether these preliminary findings are generalisable and explore mechanisms of effect.