We’re honored that Active For Life Fitness and founder Melissa Renner were featured in Cleveland.com for their work bringing music, movement, and memory to individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia. In the article titled “Active For Life Music Programs Helping Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patients Dance and Sing Again,” Melissa shares how her seated rhythm, tap, and sing-along classes are helping participants reconnect with joy—even in the face of cognitive decline.
Using specially designed tap shoe covers and easy-to-follow dance steps, Renner’s classes are accessible to individuals in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. Whether it’s a seated cha-cha or a swing-inspired sing-along, these programs stimulate both body and brain. As Renner explains, music often reaches areas of the brain untouched by memory loss, giving participants rare moments of clarity and connection. Especially during and after the isolation of the pandemic, these classes have become lifelines for residents in memory care facilities across Northeast Ohio. Read the full article here.