How Physical Activity Benefits Care Recipients — and Caregivers

A common myth is that individuals with dementia can’t participate in physical activity due to memory or cognitive challenges. Movement is not only possible but crucial, especially for maintaining mobility and preserving independence, says Amit Shah, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Shah recommends weight training at home to maintain strength. “Even small weights, 3 to 5 pounds, can strengthen arms and shoulders to help individuals remain more independent,” he says.

Besides walking and weight training, are there other beneficial exercises? The jury is still out, because limited studies have examined other aerobic exercises. However, any activity that increases the heart rate can lead to positive health benefits, explains Robyn Culbertson, a geriatric physical therapist in Columbia, South Carolina.

Mind-body connection

Exercise offers numerous benefits that are good for the body and the mind, especially when it involves coordination, sequencing or following directions. Shah says activities that combine movement with focus help keep the brain engaged. “I think everything good for the heart is good for the brain,” he says. Shah adds that we know exercise is protective against dementia, and that benefit continues during the early stages.

Jenny Caldwell of Beecher, Illinois, is convinced that her husband, Paul, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, is stronger mentally because of his regular exercise routine. During the pandemic, Paul started an exercise program over Zoom for close friends with Parkinson’s disease. The group meets three times a week and includes core, balance, strength, low cardio and high cardio training. Jenny joins the exercise group and motivates Paul when he’s having a particularly tough morning. More recently, the two of them started an exercise class at a local center for seniors who want to exercise but cannot afford to join a gym.

“Exercising together keeps us both moving, but more than that, it brings us closer — it’s something we do for each other and with each other,” says Jenny. “Twelve years after the diagnosis, we never thought Paul would be in such good shape. Between his medication regimen and commitment to exercise, his symptoms are well managed.”

Physical therapy exercises

People living with dementia, Parkinson’s and other conditions can benefit from ongoing physical therapy to establish and maintain a regular exercise routine. It’s important for those people and their family caregivers to proactively ask their health care providers about physical therapy, which is covered under Medicare when there is a medical need.

Caregivers play a crucial role by helping reinforce and support the exercises between sessions, making therapy more effective over time, says Culbertson, a spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association in Alexandria, Virginia.

“Many older adults, especially those with dementia or cognitive decline, struggle to remember or stay motivated to perform physical therapy exercises,” explains Culbertson. “This is where caregivers can really be there for loved ones to ensure steady progress.”

A 2022 study, which included more than 1,400 Medicare beneficiaries with dementia receiving care at home, showed that physical therapy helped individuals improve their ability to do everyday activities. Even a few sessions can make a difference, but doing more sessions, from six to 13 visits, yields even better results.

After seven years of working with older adults, Culbertson has seen firsthand that physical activity does more than build strength — it also supports memory, sharpens cognition and helps delay the progression of dementia. “Regular exercise reduces fall risk and often allows seniors to live safely in their homes for longer,” she says.