Physical activity is healthy for everyone, but it has an even greater impact for seniors.

Studies show daily physical movement for people over 60 can improve mobility, balance and overall well-being, but it can also greatly decrease the risk of physical and cognitive ailments like dementia.

As part of our next Chapter initiative, Kelsey Starks takes us to Owensboro to show us how seniors are aging gracefully and living longer through dance.

Go.

You go.

We do.

At Joey Johnson's dance studio in Owensboro.

Dance class is for people of all ages.

We're going to get in here.

More than a decade ago, the Parkinson's dance therapy program began here, focused on helping those diagnosed with the disease improve mobility.

But now it's for everyone.

As it grew, we started getting other people that had had strokes or chronic health conditions and mobility conditions, people with pulmonary issues, heart issues.

And it just continued to grow into what it is now, which is a dance for health program for anyone with mobility issues at all.

Janice Foster's husband, Mike, joined the class to help with his Parkinson's disease, and she started tagging along.

I'm totally convinced that it's lengthened his life.

I mean, he had a better quality of life, and as long as he was exercising and moving in this class, he was just always so happy.

I guess the biggest witness to that is when Kobe came.

We didn't have class for a while and he couldn't get in, couldn't get here, and he had home therapy.

But that's when he started going downhill.

I mean, and I could see the difference.

You know, even with the home therapy, they're great.

But it just was not the same as this class.

Although her husband passed more than a year ago, Janice is still going to the dance for health class at Johnson's dance studio every week now for her own health.

I would recommend it to anybody, I said.

People, you know, no matter what your diseases are, we all need to exercise and it just lengthens your life.

So it just makes you feel better.

And I know when I don't come, I miss it.

Now, the reason why.

So it keeps your body moving.

So in terms of even keeping your joints immobile.

Right.

And to move even just a little bit, you don't have to be able to kick or kick over your head.

You can touch your toe to the front.

And that brings a whole world of movement to your hips, to your knees, to your ankles by your feet or your knees, wherever you might have ended up today.

So it's little movements like that, and then they translate into what you do during the day.

So if you reach over your head with just your arm, you go home and you're reaching for something in your kitchen.

It translates into that.

So moving it, moving your body in even the smallest ways keeps your body alive.

Dance for Help is a national initiative training, dance teachers, proper movements to increase mobility and balance.

But with it comes camaraderie, socialization, and overall happiness, too.

We have fun.

We laugh a lot, and it's just good for the mind, soul and body for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Kelsey Starks.

The Dance for Health program is free to participants and funded through state and local grants.

It's just one of several outreach programs from the Owensboro Dance Theater that directly impact more than 13,000 people each year.

And you can see more stories on the rewards and challenges of aging as part of Katie's next Chapter initiative.

By going to eat dot org slash next chapter.