“A few tips for people with dementia”

– Tommy Dunne 

I’d just like to give a few tips for people with dementia: to help them do some exercise.

Healthy feet are an essential if a person with dementia is to remain mobile and active, so regular checks with the chiropodist are vital. Swimming under supervision, walking, gardening and… dare I say it, housework, are also good forms of exercise.

Gardening is a physical activity that provides you the opportunity to get out-doors and do general water the plants, take care of them, and it can be done with elderly and young alike.   It’s also the satisfaction of watching the plants grow, enjoying their colours and smells, and texture. Gardening can be very enjoyable even if the person with dementia  doesn’t  have a garden you can keep indoor plants.   People without a garden can also enjoy it as you can get indoor plants, just feeling the flower, smelling the flower, it’s enjoyable.

There’s also Tai-Chi, forms of Chinese martial arts, which combine simple physical movements and meditation.

Some of the best exercises are the seated exercises, which can be in a group or local class; it can be great fun and can benefit the carer as well. They could involve simply passing a ball around or shacking maracas, or triangles, or any musical instrument, making exercise more enjoyable.”