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Advice by Alicia: Exercise & Dementia

Friday, August 04, 2017

Welcome to Alicia’s monthly advice column where she’ll provide tips on caring for a loved one with dementia. Alicia Seaver is the VP of Memory Care Operations for EPOCH Senior Living and is a certified memory impairment specialist.

Exercise has numerous physical and mental benefits for people of all ages. For individuals living with dementia, exercise is especially important because it’s been proven to slow cognitive decline and can ease symptoms of dementia, including depression, changes in mood, restlessness, sleep disturbances and agitation. Additionally, it combats many conditions and medical complications that often arise with age — and are risk factors for dementia — including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

Getting started
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seniors should aim for 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week, and at least two days a week of muscle strengthening activities. Consider your loved one’s physical limitations before starting them on an exercise plan and don’t expect them to build up to 150 minutes a week right away. Before your loved one begins exercising, talk to their doctor and address any medical complications they may have, such as a history of falls, heart conditions, high blood pressure, weak bones or joints, and breathing problems. These factors can determine which types of physical activity are most appropriate.

Exercise for early stage dementia
In the early stages of dementia, your loved one is likely to have better mobility and less difficulty engaging in physical activity — this is the best time to make exercise a daily habit. Help your loved one experience all types of activities to find ones they most enjoy. Yoga and tai chi can decrease stress levels and agitation in your loved one, build muscle, and improve balance and flexibility. Swimming and bicycling will pump blood to their brain and improve their quality of sleep while minimizing impact on the joints — join your loved one on bike rides and monitor them in the pool to ensure their safety.

Muscle strengthening activities with light dumbbells, resistance bands or body weight will help your loved one maintain the strength needed for daily tasks such as reaching for an object on a shelf or squatting down to pick an object off the floor. Again, monitor your loved during strengthening exercises to ensure they remember the movements and execute them safely. Check your local athletic club for fitness classes geared toward seniors or look on the web for yoga, tai chi, water aerobics and strengthening workouts designed for seniors.

Exercise for mid and late stage dementia
As your loved one’s symptoms progress, it may be easier to break up exercise into smaller chunks throughout the day — take a short walk to local shops, engage in light housework or spend a morning in the garden. Seated exercises may be easier for your loved one if their mobility decreases. Consider incorporating sensory experiences into exercise, such as peaceful music, the smell and touch of plants, and the sounds of nature to soothe and calm your loved one.

Necessary precautions
Ensure your loved one is properly hydrated and warmed up before they exercise. Find a safe space for exercise with stabilizing objects like chairs and bars to help their balance if needed. Stop activities immediately if your loved one is struggling, lightheaded, dizzy, or experiencing a shortness of breath or a rapid heartbeat.

Remember: there is no right way to make exercise a part of your loved one’s life. As long as they enjoy the activities and are staying active, they’ll be much better off physically, emotionally and cognitively.

If there is a topic you would like Alicia to discuss, please send suggestions to [email protected].

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