Learn to take advantage of the many benefits in regular physical activity for people with Alzheimer's. Keep those muscles, joints and heart in good shape, stay at a healthy weight & improve sleep.
Caregivers can help people with Alzheimer's disease be more active and stay safe:
- Be realistic about how much activity can be done at one time. Several 10-minute "mini-workouts" may be best.
- Help get the activity started or join in to make the activity more fun.
- Find time in the morning for exercise.
- Break exercises into simple, easy-to-follow steps.
- Choose comfortable clothes that are suitable for the weather and appropriate shoes that fit well.
- Make sure both you and the person with Alzheimer's drink plenty of water when exercising.
Some physical activities to try:
- Take a walk together.
- Do simple tasks around the house, such as sweeping and raking.
- Work in the garden.
- Play music and dance.
- Exercise with videos made for older people. Try the sample workout on NIA's free Go4Life DVD.
- Throw a soft rubber exercise ball back and forth.
- Lift weights or household items such as soup cans.
- Use resistance bands, which you can buy in sporting goods stores. Be sure to follow the instructions.
Quick Tip
- Try being active together. Physical activity and exercise are good for caregivers, too!
Visit http://www.nia.nih.gov/Go4Life
- Read more tips for adding physical activity to your day.
- Print useful tools.
- Order a free exercise DVD.
- Share your exercise story.
National Institute on Aging
National Institutes of Health
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Go4Life is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
These are great tips! Thank you for sharing. The Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation has done a number of studies over the past 20 years that show physical and mental activities help with overall brain health. Check out our research results at http://alzheimersprevention.org/research.htm
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