Dancing for Brain Health and Mobility: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Implementation of Virtual GERAS DANCE Across Diverse Settings

This study examines the implementation of virtual GERAS DANCE in community, hospital, and long-term care (LTC) settings. Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we conducted surveys and semi-structured interviews. Key CFIR constructs analyzed included innovation characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, individual characteristics, and implementation process. We gathered feedback from 22 healthcare professionals across 11 sites in five practice settings. Virtual GERAS DANCE reached 135 older adults. Implementation was most influenced by innovation characteristics (enjoyable music, socialization, exercise, and evidence-based design) and inner setting factors within participating organizations (cost-effective implementation, experienced staff in virtual programs, and high demand for virtual options). Barriers included technical limitations such as limited Wi-Fi capacity in rural communities. The success of virtual GERAS DANCE was largely driven by its evidence-based design and the organizational readiness for virtual health interventions.