Bringing Exercise to Dementia Care

As caregivers, it can be challenging to keep a loved one engaged in healthy activities because of a lack of endurance, soreness or general lack of interest. Yet encouraging loved ones to participate in these activities can be important to improving their health and wellness. According to the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer’s Association, staying active has numerous benefits for people with dementia including:

• Reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression
• Improving stamina
• Helping to reduce blood pressure
• Reducing joint swelling associated with arthritis
• Improving balance and coordination, reducing the risk of falls
• Increasing self-esteem
• Improving sleep
• Maintaining motor skills

According to the World Health Organization, all older adults who are physically capable, including those with dementia, should do at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise during the week. If a loved one is not yet very physically active, we should consult with their physicians about having them begin to incorporate exercise into their daily routines, with an ultimate goal to engage our loved ones in physical activity for 30 minutes, 5 days a week. If we are able to, participating in these activities with our loved ones can encourage them to stay on schedule, and may be beneficial to our own health as well.

When choosing an activity, we should take into account a loved one’s interests and physical abilities. SHARE (Support, Health, Activities, Resources, and Education) for Dementia, developed by the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, is a care-planning program designed to engage both an individual with early-stage dementia and their caregiver in discussions about symptoms, communication, care values and preferences, healthy activities and planning for the future. The program encourages participation in fulfilling activities, and asks both older adults and their caregivers to list activities that they used to enjoy, or enjoy doing now, and emphasizes how participating in these activities now can be important for both the person living with dementia, as well as for their caregivers own wellness goals. If a loved one enjoyed participating in particular exercises or activities in the past, we should talk with a medical professional or exercise instructor about ways that these activities could be modified so our loved one can continue to participate in the activity as the disease progresses. 

If a loved one is unsure what physical activities they may enjoy, we can start by going through a list of activities and check off which ones we would like to do together. Next, we can brainstorm ways to remove any possible barriers that may prevent our loved ones from participating in the activity. For example, if a loved one enjoys swimming but cannot climb down a pool ladder, we can try to find a pool with a ramp or simple stairs they can access. We should start slow and try different activities until we find something they enjoy. Some activities we may want to consider trying include:

• Walking
• Dancing
• Gardening
• Swimming
• Bowling
• Lifting weights
• Using resistance bands
• Tai Chi
• Yoga
• Pilates
• Chair exercises
• Grocery shopping
• Everyday chores: making the bed, watering plants, sweeping
   

For more information and exercise ideas, visit the National Institute on Aging’s exercise and physical activity campaign Go4Life.

If we are struggling to keep up with activities at home, physical therapy may be a beneficial way to ensure a loved one is maintaining their health. Attending physical therapy can help people living with all stages of dementia, from prevention through end-of-life care. A licensed physical therapist will focus on an individual’s specific physical needs and engage them in activities that are enjoyable and meaningful to them to promote their well-being. To find a physical therapist in your area, visit the American Physical Therapy Association.