Adaptive Fitness Routines for Mid-to-Late-Stage Dementia (Home-Friendly & Safe)
Submitted by Beth Rush
Founder and Managing Editor
Body+Mind Magazine
Learn how you can help your loved one preserve their physical and cognitive abilities and help them to thrive.
Living with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other dementias means dealing with physical and mental challenges. Mother’s Day and National Senior Health Fitness Day provide special opportunities for caregivers to act with love and care by encouraging increased movement in patients’ lives. Here’s how you can help your loved one preserve their physical and cognitive abilities and help them to thrive.
Why Exercise Matters in Mid-to-Late-Stage Dementia
Why Exercise Matters in Mid-to-Late-Stage DementiaWhile dementia primarily affects the brain, its impacts ripple throughout the patient’s entire being — physical, emotional, and even social. Exercise and dementia interventions offer a way to provide comfort and a sense of well-being. It’s important to remember that even when physical and mental changes are more apparent in the mid-to-late stages of dementia, the power of movement remains significant.
Adaptive fitness focuses on exercises tailored to patients in this crucial stage, making them suitable even for those requiring around-the-clock assistance with daily personal care. Some perceived health benefits of exercise include:
- Maintaining physical function: As their dementia progresses, your loved one may experience increasing challenges with mobility, balance, and coordination. Adaptive fitness routines — even simple ones like seated exercises — can help maintain muscle strength, balance, and flexibility.
- Potentially slowing cognitive decline: Regular movements can help slow cognitive decline, helping your loved one with dementia tackle daily tasks with sharpness.
- Reducing agitation: Dementia causes changes in mood, like agitation. Engaging in fun exercises can help improve the mind-body connection, providing a positive outlet for energy.
Maintaining physical function: As their dementia progresses, your loved one may experience increasing challenges with mobility, balance, and coordination. Adaptive fitness routines — even simple ones like seated exercises —
3 Exercises for Better Mobility and Balance
Dementia presents mobility challenges, but gentle movements can make a big difference. Explore some simple exercises you can assist them with at home.
1. Seated Marching With Arm Movements
Seated Marching With Arm MovementsThis seated exercise involves the legs, core, and arms. Have your loved one sit comfortably in a sturdy chair, preferably without arms, with their feet flat on the floor. Encourage them to lift one foot at a time gently, mimicking a marching motion. Add an upper-body component by asking them to swing their arms in coordination with the legs — the opposite arm must move forward with the raised leg.
2. Single-Leg Stands
Single-leg stance training is one of the best balance exercises that can help reduce the risk of falls among people living with dementia. It’s a functional movement that mimics real-life ones like walking, allowing your loved one to move more easily.
Use a chair for stability and encourage your family member to stand on one leg, keeping the knee slightly bent. Hold this position for 20 seconds before switching to the other leg.
3. Do a Series of Movements
Do a Series of MovementsSimple movements that engage the mind and body help improve motor coordination so patients perform daily activities efficiently. As a caregiver, there’s joy in seeing your loved one carry out tasks like walking or holding things.
Invite them to clap their hands, tap their hands to their shoulders and knees, lean forward, lean back, and clap again. Repeat the same order three times. Feel free to add movements involving arms and legs.
3 Exercises to Slow Down Cognitive Decline
Certain types of activities can offer cognitive benefits through brain stimulation. Here are three adaptive fitness exercises that can benefit your loved one. Remember — engagement and enjoyment are key to reaping the benefits.
1. Rhythmic Movement With Singing
Rhythmic Movement With SingingSinging is a type of music therapy that can evoke pleasant memories and a sense of connection. Play your loved one’s favorite song and invite them to sing with you. Introduce a simple, repetitive movement like gentle swaying while seated, clapping hands or a steady walk if mobility permits. Engaging multiple senses simultaneously could potentially help preserve cognitive function.
2. Dancing
Adapt your dance movements to meet your loved one’s current abilities. One thoughtful way to do so is by playing a familiar song that’s not too upbeat. Slowly invite them to tap their feet, sway their upper body, or roll their shoulders to the rhythm while seated or standing with support. You can also hold their hands and enjoy the moment with them.
3. Gardening
3. GardeningGardening lets your loved one connect with nature, which can provide stimulation. It engages various senses — the scent of herbs, the colors of flowers and the sounds of birds. The richness of these sensorial pleasures may soothe them.
Depending on the patient’s current abilities, encourage planting and watering in a comfortable seated position. Use raised containers or garden beds to avoid straining their backs. You can also create a small garden indoors that they can water and admire whenever they like.
3 Exercises to Calm an Agitated Patient With Dementia
Exercises to Calm an Agitated Patient With DementiaMoments of agitation can be distressing for you and your loved one. It’s important to be patient, conceal your frustration and implement activities to promote calmness. The key is to introduce simple yet enjoyable tasks that can help redirect their energy. They should also enjoy themselves to reduce bouts of disruptive behavior.
1. Yoga
You may think mid-to-late-stage dementia patients can’t perform yoga, but there are many ways to adapt the practice to their current abilities. Think of it less as traditional yoga and more as movement therapy inspired by yoga principles. It serves as a mind-body exercise and an effective stress-relieving tool.
Consider practicing the following poses, provided their doctor or therapist approves of them:
- Seated mountain pose: Seat on a chair with a tall, relaxed posture. Cue them to lengthen their spine as if a string pulls their head upward. Let arms relax on the side of the lap. Place a cushion under the hips for better comfort.
- Shoulder rolls: In a sitting or guided standing position, instruct them to raise both shoulders close to the ears. Slowly roll them backward and down, then forward to the front and toward the ears, making slow, continuing circles.
- Seated cat-cow: This seated exercise helps move the spine. Encourage them to rest their hands on their thighs or knees. Instruct them to inhale and arch their back slowly, bringing their chest out. Cue the exhale while rounding the spine slightly, tucking the chin to the chest. Put a hand on their back while doing this exercise for additional support.
2. Walk Around
Walk AroundIt can be easy for people living with dementia to feel bored at home. Walking around can be a great way for them to engage with the things indoors and in your backyard. While walking, point out interesting things like photos, plants or souvenirs that trigger happy memories. This activity can go hand in hand with their ongoing reminiscence therapy, helping them recall past events.
3. Cooking
Cooking is an excellent way to stay active indoors, offering people living with mid-to-late-stage dementia a creative outlet. Simple tasks like stirring and pacing while waiting for the water to boil can provide a sense of purpose and structure. A patient who feels lost may find comfort in preparing their favorite snack, while the repetitive action of washing vegetables can calm an anxious individual. Avoid complex jobs like slicing because it may only exacerbate their agitation.
Give the Gift of Movement
Let the essence of Mother’s Day and National Senior Health Fitness Day this May inspire you to make a meaningful difference in the life of your loved one living with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other dementias’ life. Embrace these adaptive fitness routines and offer consistent support to ensure they continue to experience moments of comfort, connection, and happiness. Remember to contact your family member’s doctor first before doing these exercises for your peace of mind.
Beth Rush
Founder and Managing Editor
Body+Mind Magazine
Beth Rush is the mindfulness editor at Body+Mind. She writes about caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. She also shares tips for coping with c-PTSD, PCOS, and climate anxiety. Her goal is to encourage readers to live their best lives. Subscribe to the Body+Mind Newsletter for more posts by Beth.
