Larry Cappetto

Larry Cappetto is a member of Senior Friendship Centers in Venice, FL. He was married for 61 years to “the most beautiful woman in the world,” until she passed away from dementia. He was her caregiver for the last three years of her life. After she passed, he says, “I became like a hermit. My daughter said, ‘You’ve got to get out of the house.’”

Larry didn’t want to be around anyone for about seven or eight months. One day, his daughter brought him to the senior center in Venice, where he and his late wife used to come together to dance. The rest is history.

Now he enjoys dancing to the live music every day at the center. “This place brought me back to life!” Larry beams. He says that the other members all think he dances like Fred Astaire, although he says “I don’t dance the way you’re supposed to dance. I do my own style. I create my own choreography. They all love it.” Larry says dancing keeps him young, and that he is “in another world” when he dances.

Dancing helps keep Larry active and healthy, and being involved with a social program can help prevent loneliness and isolation as people age. Isolation is one of the leading causes of death for seniors, as it significantly increases risk for dementia, strokes, heart attacks, falls, and more. Staying connected is important for everyone throughout the journey of aging.