‘Sit Dance’ a hit at Resthaven Port Elliot

On a sunny Friday morning at Resthaven Port Elliot, residents are gathering in ‘Encounter Hall’ for one of their favourite exercise groups – ‘Sit Dance’.

As the name implies, participants follow an instructor on the big screen through a series of gentle yet stimulating seated movements, all to the tunes of yesteryear.

Mrs Hazel Jones is a regular class participant, and one of the Resthaven Port Elliot ‘originals’ (as she calls herself), moving into the site when it opened in May 2015.

Mrs Jones ensures she attends the class three times a week, saying, "It’s great – a bit of moving, a bit of socialising."

"The presenter is fantastic, he really understands older people."

"And I love the music – all the old favourites."

Indeed, many residents sing along to the music throughout the class, enjoying tunes such as My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Goodnight Irene, and Side by Side.

The Sit Dance class is followed by morning tea, with Mrs Jones commenting that "The only bad thing about Resthaven Port Elliot is that they keep offering me so much food – I can’t resist a piece of cake with icing!"

"Oh, go on then," she adds with a laugh, as she’s offered a slice of cake by Lifestyle Assistant, Karen.

Mrs Jones certainly enjoys the lifestyle on offer at Resthaven Port Elliot, with landscaped gardens and courtyards, a site shop, hairdresser and café, activities and outings, and a central seaside location – it’s no wonder that, when asked what her favourite part of living there is, she replies, "Everything!"

Resthaven Port Elliot is just one of Resthaven’s eleven high quality residential homes across metropolitan Adelaide, Murray Bridge, Port Elliot and Mount Gambier, with a twelfth opening in Aberfoyle Park in mid-2018.

Resthaven also supports thousands of older South Australians to live independently in their homes through our Community Services wellness, therapy and in home services.