The Purpose of exercises for a person living with dementia
Our aim is not to raise a persons fitness level but to keep musle memory, joints supple and strengthen core stability to help aid:
Balance and motor skills
Regular exercise has been proven to decrease depression in older adults.
We need to be aware of the physiological change once a person is living with dementia.
Exercising stimulates the mind which improves memory, concentration and hand eye coordination enabling the action of performing simple tasks many of us take for granted to be done much more easily.
Benefits of Exercise
Mobility
Muscular strength
Co-ordination
Circulation
General well being
The exercises are to improve mobility, muscle strength, coordination, circulation and general wellbeing.
Other Benefits of exercising are:
1: Improves the cardiovascular system aiding better breathing.
2:Improves circulation therefore improving Blood Pressure levels.
3:Reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.
4:Reduces the risk of falls etc, which in turn decreases injury.
5:Reduces joint pain
Improves quality of sleep.
6:Releases Endomorphines into the body, which you may know, better as the ‘happy hormone’
Exercise can take many forms from:
Walking, swimming, gentle sports.
Gardening, active hobbies
Chair based exercises can be done at home with your loved one.
Coming soon are chair based exercises to help you at home.
I developed a Dementia Falls Prevention Programme for the NHS for your interest only
We were the chosen professionals by NHS Hertfordshire to develop a falls prevention programme specific to dementia clients. Our report showed that not only did we save the NHS over £78,000 over 10 weeks but we reduced the hospital visits from the care homes partaking by 55% and the most amazing results was that the clients assessments showed a 66% increase of muscle strength and joint flexion.
Dementia Falls Prevention Programme
The Dementia Falls Prevention programme is delivered over 10 weeks. Developed to improve core stability , muscle strength and flexibility. With an increased emphasis on the exercise section, a proven success rate of reducing falls and an assessment plan.
Week 1
In week one we do an assessment on each client participating, measuring muscle strength, joint flexion and a balance test and deliver their first session.
Week 2 - 10
Over the next 10 weeks we continue to deliver the sessions increasing the level of exercise until we reach week 10
Week 10
Week10 the final assessment on each client is taken as in week 1 these are recorded on an assessment plan of which you receive a copy.