The Importance of Exercise for Seniors with Dementia

Credit: YuriArcursPeopleimages Via Freepik

Exercise plays a vital role in the life of an individual with dementia. Physical activity is an excellent way to improve well-being and reduce challenging behaviours in seniors with dementia. Staying active promotes better sleep, increases strength, reduces the risk of falls, and positively impacts mental health. Dementia and exercise pair well together, as physical activity is a great way to control dementia symptoms and allow seniors to be more comfortable battling the disease. 

A study strongly suggests that exercise, specifically aerobic exercise, may lessen cognitive impairment and reduce dementia risk. Exercise can also slow down the progression of the disease in seniors with dementia. Understanding the link between physical exercise and dementia can help caregivers provide a more active lifestyle for their loved ones. 

At SageCare, our specialized staff members understand the benefits of exercise. When providing dementia care in Toronto, we always look for new strategies to encourage physical activity in seniors. 

Dementia and Exercise Benefits

There is a positive correlation between exercise and dementia due to the numerous advantages of staying physically active. 

Less Risk of Falls

Lack of exercise and dementia don’t pair well, as it increases the risk of accidents among seniors. Not being active can reduce strength and result in injuries among seniors. It is risky for seniors with dementia to fall as it can affect their bones and ability to move around independently, resulting in a decline in their mood. 

Helping your loved one understand the link between dementia and exercise benefits may encourage them to participate in physical activity. Any exercise that increases strength can improve muscle, ligament strength, bone density, and postural support. This enables individuals to move without the risk of falling. 

Improved Memory

Physical exercise and dementia are co-related as exercise can slow down the progression of cognitive decline and improve memory in seniors. Physical exercise can increase the size of the part of the brain associated with memory formation, known as the hippocampus. This allows the brain to continue thinking, reasoning, and learning skills. 

Credit: karlyukav Via Freepik

Improved Behaviour

Dementia causes many changes in an individual’s life, so it is common for seniors to behave differently. They cannot communicate or feel unfamiliar in a new environment, resulting in confusion, stress, and aggression. When caring for seniors with dementia, we vow to promote exercise and incorporate it into daily care whenever possible to encourage positive behaviour among our residents.

One of the key things to note about dementia and exercise benefits is that it can significantly improve an individual’s behaviour. The endorphins produced in the brain during exercise can contribute to a feeling of well-being. Exercise also boosts dopamine, improving mood and a higher attention span. This positive outcome can encourage seniors to behave positively, reducing the risk of dementia-related behaviours, such as wandering or getting aggressive. 

Better Sleep

Lack of exercise and dementia are often linked to poor sleep as the body may not feel tired. Understanding the link between exercise and dementia can help you explore the many benefits of physical activity. According to studies about the effects of exercise on sleep in neurodegenerative disease, “exercise interventions can modulate circadian function including shifting the onset of melatonin excretion, changing temperature regulation, and promoting phase shift of sleep-wake activity cycle.”

Types of Exercise

The stage of dementia and exercise benefits can influence one another. In the early stages of dementia, a senior may be able to perform intense exercises, such as strength training and aerobics. As the disease progresses, seniors may switch to low-impact physical exercise. Here are some of the best forms of exercises seniors can engage in for better overall health.

Walking

It’s important to explore the benefits of walking when discussing dementia and exercise benefits. Walking improves mood, cognitive abilities, balance, and coordination, which are all critical for good health in seniors with dementia.

Encourage your loved one to go on frequent walks and accompany them to ensure they are safe. It is common for seniors with dementia to forget directions or wander in unfamiliar locations, and staying close to them will reduce the risk of getting lost or hurt.

Credit: chormail Via Freepik

Aerobics

Aerobic exercise in dementia is associated with functional ability. A study concluded, “Exercise-related gains in cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with improved memory performance and reduced hippocampal atrophy, suggesting cardiorespiratory fitness gains may be important in driving brain benefits.”

Understanding the link between aerobic exercise and dementia is important to encourage your loved one to participate. However, you must remember that this exercise may be too intense for seniors at mid or later dementia stages.

Dancing

If you’re having trouble explaining the relationship between exercise and benefits to your loved one, it might be helpful to encourage a form of exercise they enjoy. Dance is a fun exercise that can motivate seniors to groove to their favourite beats without feeling like a chore. Put on their favourite songs and try dancing with them as it may help them feel more comfortable.

Gardening

Sometimes, the best form of physical exercise is an activity that doesn’t feel like exercise. Gardening is one of the most enjoyable brain-stimulating activities for seniors, as it may bring back positive memories from the past. Many aging adults enjoy gardening, so it is a great way to encourage them to stay physically active.

Gather gardening materials and show your loved one where they can garden. This can be a fun activity for many seniors, depending on their interests and hobbies. 

Credit: Wiroj Sidhisoradej Via Freepik

Encouraging Exercise in Seniors 

Explaining the correlation between dementia and exercise benefits to seniors can sometimes be challenging. Here are a few tips to help your loved one enjoy exercise.

Take it One Day at a Time

Lack of exercise and dementia are two issues that cannot be solved overnight. You can start with five or ten minutes of exercise the first week and help them build their way up. Try slowly incorporating exercises into your loved one’s daily routine and gradually observe how it affects their memory, social skills, and communication.

The best way to build a routine is by creating a dementia care plan and including different forms of physical exercise based on your loved one’s interest. This can help you or other caregivers ensure that the senior receives sufficient exercise daily.

Choose Something Fun

Select a form of exercise that your loved one enjoyed in the past and embed it into their daily routine to keep them active. Aerobic exercise is often a top choice as it can be done with a group of people. Walking at a park or lifting weights at the gym might not be desirable for some seniors.

Join Your Loved One

Physical exercise and dementia might be two topics your loved one is uninterested in discussing. The best way to encourage physical activity is by joining your loved one. Whether they are performing aerobic exercises or taking a walk in the park, show them your support by joining them until they are comfortable exercising alone.

Physical exercise can help your loved one deal with dementia in many ways. Explore the benefits of exercise and encourage your aging parent or partner to participate in physical activity for better overall health.