Staying Active Together
If you are supporting someone living with dementia, exercising together can improve functional independence, reduce stress, improve mood, and promote a feeling of well-being for both people. It is hard for family members to find the time for “self-care” activities such as exercise when supporting someone with dementia. But, by joining your friend or family member, in even a 15-20 minute daily music and movement routine, studies show benefits in cognitive, social, and physical health.
Staying active can help keep muscles, joints, and the heart in good shape. It also helps people maintain a healthy weight, improves mood, and is good for healthy sleep habits. Below are some tips to keep you moving and grooving!
- Stay motivated by making physical activity a part of your daily routine, and try to keep it around the same time each day.
- Dancing is a great way to work on endurance, as well as reduce stress in the process. Partner dancing for couples can be fun as well as present the opportunity to reminisce with music.
- Gardening is an activity enjoyed by many, with the added benefit of getting outdoors. Tasks like raking and weeding are a great way to work on strength and endurance without calling it “exercise.”
- Taking walks indoors or outdoors is one of the best activities one can do to improve or maintain physical health.
- Simple seated body movements to music such as marching in place, reaching over your head, and simple stretches can be incorporated into a morning routine. It is more likely an individual will want to participate in exercise if it is with the person they know and trust. Also, try not presenting it as “exercise,” but instead, just having fun and spending time together.
- A routine could begin seated facing each other with a familiar slow song. Start at the head and neck with gentle stretches and move down your body ending with your feet. Do arm circles, shoulder shrugs, turning at the waist, marching in place, and end with ankle circles to give the body a gentle, yet beneficial work out. Play two familiar upbeat songs and continue to exercise briskly by working out each limb at a faster pace. End with another slow song and do the beginning warm-up stretches for a cool-down.
- Turning off distractions, such as the television, will assist with setting the stage for activity. Also, make sure to have on proper clothing & shoes for physical activity, which will lend itself to a positive and safe experience.
- You can also find simple seated workouts on YouTube as well and follow along.
- Most importantly, have fun!
If you would like more information on our Memory Ministry, Memory Café of coaching, please contact Vicky Pitner at vpitner@firstumc.org.