Why Moving Matters More Than Ever

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You've probably heard that exercise is good for everyone. But when you're caring for someone with dementia, the idea of "working out" can feel somewhere between impossible and laughable. Here's what nobody tells you: movement doesn't have to mean gym memberships or workout videos. It means finding ways to keep your person engaged, comfortable, and connected to their body—even when everything else is changing.

I remember the first time a doctor suggested my husband try "regular exercise" after his diagnosis. I looked at her like she had two heads. We were barely managing to get through breakfast without confusion, and she wanted us to add fitness routines?

But here's what I've learned: movement isn't about fitness goals or burning calories. It's about maintaining independence, lifting mood, keeping muscles from atrophying, and giving your person something that feels good in their body when so much else feels uncertain.

The research is clear—physical activity can slow cognitive decline, reduce agitation, improve sleep, and boost mood. But the real gift of movement is simpler than that: it's one of the few things that often still feels natural and right, even as other abilities fade.

You don't need special equipment. You don't need to be a physical therapist. You just need to know what's safe, what's realistic, and how to make it work with where your person is right now.

Why Movement Matters for Brain Health and Mood

When your person moves their body, real things happen in their brain. Blood flow increases. The hippocampus (the memory center) gets stimulated. Mood-regulating chemicals get released. It's not magic—it's biology.

You've probably noticed that your person seems calmer after a walk, or less agitated after some time outside. That's not coincidence. Movement reduces stress hormones and increases endorphins. It also gives purpose to part of the day, which matters more than people realize.

And here's something nobody talks about: movement often accesses memories and abilities that conversation can't reach anymore. Your person might struggle to follow directions for getting dressed, but their body might remember how to dance, how to throw a ball, how to march in place.

The goal is to support what's still working.

Finding Safe Exercise Options for Different Ability Levels

Safety first, always. But that doesn't mean wrapping your person in bubble wrap.

For early to moderate stages: Walking is gold. Around the block, through the house, in the backyard—it doesn't matter. What matters is regularity and supervision if balance is an issue. Dancing to old favorite songs. Gardening. Folding laundry (yes, that counts). Light stretching. Swimming or water aerobics if they've always been comfortable in water.

For moderate to advanced stages: Chair exercises become your friend. Seated marching. Arm raises. Gentle twists. Rolling a ball back and forth. Even just standing up from a chair and sitting back down (with you nearby) works muscles and maintains mobility.

For advanced stages: Movement might look like assisted stretching, hand massage, moving arms and legs through gentle range of motion, or supported standing with your help. These aren't inferior options—they're appropriate care.

The key is matching the activity to current ability, not to what your person used to do. Let go of comparing. This isn't about getting back to something. It's about honoring what's possible now.

Chair Exercises That Actually Work

Chair exercises deserve their own section because they're practical, safe, and surprisingly effective. Your person stays stable. You stay less anxious. Everyone wins.

Start with what feels natural: seated marching (lifting knees alternately), arm circles, shoulder shrugs, ankle rotations. You can sit across from them and do it together—it becomes connection time, not therapy time.

Add simple props if it helps: a soft ball to squeeze or toss, a scarf to wave, lightweight objects to lift. The movement matters more than the equipment.

YouTube has dozens of free chair exercise videos designed for seniors or people with limited mobility. Search for "chair exercises for seniors" and watch a few to find an instructor whose voice and pace your person responds to. Some days you'll follow along together. Some days you'll do your own modified version. Both count.

Aim for 10-15 minutes if you can. But five minutes is better than zero minutes. Two minutes is better than skipping it because it feels overwhelming.

Working with Physical Therapists (and When to Ask for Help)

If your person is having falls, has significant balance issues, or you're seeing rapid physical decline, ask their doctor about a physical therapy evaluation. Medicare typically covers it with a physician's order.

A good physical therapist will assess fall risk, strength, balance, and create exercises specific to your person's needs. They'll also teach you safe transfer techniques and ways to adapt your home to reduce injury risk.

Be honest with the PT about what's actually sustainable. If they suggest exercises three times a day but you know once a day is your realistic maximum, say so. They'd rather you do something consistently than set impossible goals and give up.

Home health physical therapy is also an option—they come to you, which eliminates transportation stress and lets them see your actual environment.

If formal PT isn't accessible right now, occupational therapists can also help with movement strategies, and many senior centers offer exercise classes specifically designed for people with cognitive changes.

The Real Benefits You'll Actually Notice

Forget the studies for a minute. Here's what you might see in your daily life:

Better sleep. Less restlessness at night. Fewer episodes of agitation or anxiety. Improved appetite. Less constipation (movement helps digestion). Maintained ability to do transfers and walk to the bathroom. Moments of joy when a song makes them want to move.

You might also notice something you weren't expecting: those movement times become bright spots in both your days. There's something about moving together—even if it's just walking to the mailbox—that feels less like caregiving and more like being human together.

That matters more than any clinical outcome.

Movement doesn't have to be complicated, and it definitely doesn't have to add to your stress. It can be as simple as a walk when weather permits, a chair exercise video twice a week, or dancing in the kitchen to a favorite old song.

Your person's body still wants to move, even as their mind changes. Honoring that gently, safely, within current abilities, which gives them dignity, comfort, and moments of feeling good.

You're not training for anything. You're just supporting your person in staying as connected to their body and as comfortable in it as possible, for as long as possible.

That's enough. You're doing enough.

Action Plan

This Week:

• Observe when your person seems most energetic and receptive (usually morning or early afternoon) and note that as your potential movement time

• Try one 5-minute activity: a short walk, seated marching together, or arm movements to music

• Check your person's shoes—are they supportive and non-slip? Replace if needed

This Month:

• Establish a regular movement routine, even if it's just 10 minutes three times a week

• Search YouTube for 2-3 chair exercise videos and bookmark ones that match your person's ability level

• Talk to your person's doctor if you have concerns about balance, falls, or physical decline

• Consider where you could add "functional movement" to daily routines: folding towels, walking to get the mail, putting away groceries together

Next Three Months:

• If falls or significant mobility issues exist, request a physical therapy evaluation

• Experiment with different types of movement to see what brings the most positive response: music-based, outdoor walking, chair exercises, or gentle stretching

• Create a simple movement tracking system (even just checkmarks on a calendar) so you can see patterns in mood and behavior on movement days versus sedentary days

• Reach out to local senior centers or community programs about adaptive exercise classes designed for people with dementia

Remember: Any movement is better than no movement. Five minutes is better than zero. Sitting and clapping to music counts. Walking to the bathroom counts. You're not looking for perfect—you're looking for possible. And whatever you manage is exactly right.

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