Author(s)

Diletta Calamassi^1*, Angelo Palfrader², Cristina Biagiotti³, Roberto Galli⁴

¹AUSL Toscana Centro and University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
²Nursing Home Ojop Freinademetz, San Martino in Badia, Bolzano, Italy.
³Territorial Health Unit, Florence, Italy.
⁴AUSL Toscana Centro, Florence, Italy.

Objective: Biodanza seems able to improve well-being and personal abilities and to prevent stress. This study’s aim was to explore the experiences of the professional caregivers who participated in the Biodanza sessions. Materials and methods: The study which was carried out could be defined as a hermeneutic phenomenological study. In-depth and face-to-face interviews, as well as audio recording of professional caregivers who attended 24 sessions of Biodanza (12 sessions with only the professional caregivers and 12 sessions with patients with Alzheimer’s disease), were used as methods to carry out the study. Subsequently, the interviews were transcripted and the narrative data were analyzed using the Giorgi method. Results: 6 Units of Meaning emerged (major topics) from the study: Feelings before the beginning of the sessions and during the Biodanza; Emotions during the sessions of Biodanza; The influence that the Biodanza experience had in the workplace; The impact of the Biodanza experience on personal life; The professional care givers’ perceptions about the benefits of Biodanza on the patients; Organizational aspects for participation in the sessions of Biodanza. At first, Biodanza may cause embarrassment and initiating a kind of contact with each other may be difficult. Subsequently, positive emotions (such as energy and tranquility) arise in those who take part in Biodanza session. On the workplace, the subjects start having a better relationship with the colleagues who have also participated in the Biodanza sessions. They also feel less stressed during work and in private life as well. They feel like they’re able to love and appreciate life more. Based on the caregivers’ opinion, the patients also benefit from the Biodanza sessions. It’s important to pay attention to the organization of the Biodanza sessions, in order not to cause discomfort to the operators during their daily work. Conclusions: The professional caregivers believe that Biodanza is helpful both on a personal level and in improving the relationship between people within the workgroup. The professional caregivers see improvements in the patients in regard to movement and deambulation, concentration, and aggression.

Biodanza, Professional Caregivers, Qualitative Study

Calamassi, D. , Palfrader, A. , Biagiotti, C. and Galli, R. (2019) Biodanza in Healthcare Residences: Qualitative Study. Open Journal of Nursing, 9, 41-58. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2019.91005.