Is your loved one slowing down due to their lack of interest in typical activities due to dementia? Are you worried about the toll a lack of exercise will take on your loved one with dementia? Are you concerned about your loved one with dementia losing strength and balance?
A common form of dementia or memory problems is Alzheimer's Dementia. Someone who has Alzheimer's dementia can experience multiple issues, from safety concerns to handling daily tasks.
Sometimes your loved ones with dementia can lose their ability to understand the importance of movement and how to navigate their environment safely. Unfortunately, your loved one may start to lose the skills to do the necessary daily tasks as they once were able to do, and in some cases, they might begin to experience falls or problems with balance.
Here are 4 key ways to help encourage your loved one with dementia to keep moving and stay active:
1) Stick to a routine
A disruption in routine for any of us can be an interruption; however, when your loved one has dementia keeping a routine is extremely important. In particular, having an exercise routine can improve mood and allow your loved on to stay at the most independent level possible.
2) Stay away from ‘formal exercise’ (unless exercise was part of your loved one’s life)
Build leg strength and endurance by encouraging your loved one to move from one place to the next. Stick with practical everyday tasks like household chores/prior hobbies (folding/sorting clothes, retrieving/putting items away, or stacking items) - making sure your loved one had a prior interest in the tasks may help with better participation. Be sure to properly supervise these tasks if your loved one has balance or safety concerns if your loved one has difficulty standing or walking try to do tasks in sitting instead of standing for safety. You can always add challenges like adding weights or heights of items to encourage progression in task completion.
3) Try walking while holding your loved one's hand
While walking with your loved one, hand-holding can be a great way to build a great connection with your loved one while also providing the stability that your loved one may need. If your loved one is having increased difficulty with walking or balance problems, ensure they are safe enough to walk or stand to avoid experiencing a fall or injury.
4) Try or re-visit physical therapy
If you’ve been battling with trying to help keep your loved one active or you are concerned that your loved one's mobility is starting to deteriorate, it might require the benefits of a hands-on specialist like a physical therapist. Seeking physical therapy is the faster way to help you implement specific strategies to help keep your loved one living at the most optimal level and help maintain their physical abilities for as long as possible.
If you or your loved one lives in the Greater Milwaukee area and would like to learn more about how physical therapy or a trained physical therapist can help you please reach out to us CLICK HERE.
Talk more soon!!
Preston, PT
P.S. If your loved one is experiencing difficulty in their mobility which restricts their ability to get around the home with great ease or unable to complete their daily tasks as they once used to, please download the walking and balance tips report which includes actionable tips I give to my patients at Prestige Therapy and Wellness, LLC.
Click here to get your free copy: https://prestigetherapywellness.lpages.co/caregiver/
