If you or someone close to you is affected by dementia, or any other type of Alzheimer’s, exercise may not necessarily be the first thing you think of, however, the Alzheimer’s Society reports that physical activity brings myriad benefits to those living with this illness, and can significantly improve patients’ quality of life and could help to delay the onset.
22nd April 2025
Some of the benefits of working out working out are the reduced risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, since it makes the heart and blood vessels work more efficiently. At the same time, it reduces the risk of stroke, some cancers, plus type 2 diabetes, while enhancing muscle mass and strength as well as suppleness and flexibility. Equally, exercise helps to keep bones strong, which reduces the chances of osteoporosis. Sleep and balance should also improve.
Additionally, physical activity brings social benefits and the chance to interact with others – dementia can be very isolating – and so boost confidence and mood. Finally, there is some evidence to suggest that exercise actively improves memory and delays mental cognition decline, which will help increase independence.
It may seem daunting to start an exercise routine, especially if you haven’t previously worked out. (So it’s always worth chatting to your GP first.) But if you progressively incorporate safe, simple and adaptable workouts into a daily routine, the benefits accumulate over time, leading to overall better wellbeing.
Activity should be tailored to particular abilities and preferences to sustain engagement and motivation. And it could be something as simple as walking, doing a little light housework, going up and down the stairs or a few gentle stretches during the TV ad breaks. Even standing up and sitting down again slowly at regular intervals can be beneficial.
But try and focus on strength-building and cardio exercises, as well as those designed to increase flexibility.
Natural settings can improve short-term memory, levels of stress and sleep patterns in people with dementia. The visual and tactile stimulation of being outside enhances sensory perception, which can help to enhance the quality life.
Equally, an indoor gym may cause sensory overload in terms of noise, bright lights, crowds etc. – a dementia patient may well find an outdoor gym calmer and more conducive to physical activity.
Fresh Air Fitness is a leading UK provider of outdoor gym equipment, across a wide range of settings including residential homes, and aimed at many different ages and levels of ability and fitness. Among our equipment range there are a number of products that can be highly beneficial for those living with dementia, including:
The T’ai Chi Spinners exercise the brain as well as the body and are great for promoting hand-eye coordination, flexibility, posture and cognitive health. Plus they’re highly user-friendly, and being a 2-user piece, very sociable. This equipment works shoulders and arms while enhancing mental agility.
The Arm and Pedal bike is also available as an accessible model for wheelchairs, or you can use a chair for extra support. It encourages low-impact, cyclical motion to boost blood flow. Use it to improve flexibility, core strength and cardio fitness. These bikes are suitable for all abilities, and users can set their own pace.
The Double Air Walker is a double piece, so it’s ideal for socialising and combating isolation. It’s also great for cardio work, balance and flexibility and, again, it’s low-impact, and allows the user to set their own pace.
Offering good support to the user, the recumbent bike provides a good cardio workout, improving heart health and has handles for extra support. It encourages cyclical motion and has a very low impact on the joints.
This is the combination pull down and chest press, to give it its full name. This one’s all about building upper-body strength, plus we offer an accessible version. In a nutshell, you get all the benefits of a chest press plus a pull-down challenger in one frame. And the back-to-back seats allow two people to work out together.
At Fresh Air Fitness, we’re very aware of the benefits of outdoor exercise for older people, whether they have dementia or not, and its advantages for physical and mental health.
Learn more about how we could transform the lives of residents at your care setting, with outdoor door gym equipment for a workout outside. Get in touch today.
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