Benefits of Rocking Chair Therapy and Dementia
My love of rocking began on the back porch of my grandmother’s Tennessee home. We didn’t have a rocking chair at my house, but Saturday morning visits to my grandmother introduced me to the calm of the back-and-forth motion of the wooden rocker rails gently bumping across the planks of her porch. After a morning of vigorous yard work, I would settle into one of the two large wooden rockers (Cracker Barrel size!). We would have a cold RC Cola and a MoonPie, listen to the birds, and watch the traffic go by.
When I first started to rock, the ladder-back chair was so large I needed two cushions to support my back, and could only rock by shifting my weight and gently pushing with my tiptoes. I eventually grew into the rocker, and by high school, I began to really grasp the benefits and enjoyment of rocking. My grandmother swore by her daily rocks and remained independent and active until she died days before her 100th birthday.
Although often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, rocking chairs actually originated in the early 18th century as a soothing tool for infants. Their benefits extend well beyond childhood, famously including President John F. Kennedy, whose doctor prescribed rocking for chronic back pain. Kennedy found such relief that he traveled with a rocker on Air Force One and gifted chairs to family and friends.
So how do persons living with neurocognitive disorders benefit from Rocking Chair Therapy? As far back as the 1990s, a study showed that Rocking Chair Therapy (a consistent, structured routine) improved the emotional health of nursing home residents living with dementia and decreased depression and anxiety.
Two studies from the University of Rochester School of Nursing found that the benefits of rocking for those living with dementia in a nursing home setting included fewer behavioral disturbances, improved muscle tone, improved balance, and a reduced need for pain medication. The residents rocked for 30 to 120 minutes each day, five days a week.
The most apparent outcome from the studies was an overall improved mood. This included a decrease in crying episodes, depression, and anxiety. This may be due to a decrease in pain levels or the release of endorphins triggered by rocking.
If you decide to implement a rocking chair routine in your home, be mindful of safety measures when your loved one is getting in and out of the chair. Consider having two rockers and joining your loved one in a daily routine of rocking. Add some upbeat music, or better yet, find the joy in rocking with a “dope” and a MoonPie!
If you would like more information about our Memory Ministry or our Memory Cafe, please contact Vicky at vpitner@firstumc.org.