Dementia is prevalent in the ever-growing aging population. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. Although it is well known that physical exercise can enhance the well being of older adults by improving mobility, physical function, cognition and mood, and preventing falls, not much research has been done exploring the effects of physical exercise on individuals with dementia residing in various settings. Recently, researchers sought to explore this phenomenon, as well as find out what types of physical exercise produced the best results.
30% of older adults with dementia reside in nursing homes due to the disabling effects and more need for care. A nursing home provides services for those needing high levels of nursing and/or personal care. It is important to implement the types of physical exercise that best suits older adults living with dementia and engages their physical and cogitative functioning. After evaluating many studies that explored the effects of physical exercise interventions on older adults living with dementia in nursing homes, the researchers concluded that there is a vast amount of evidence that physical exercise significantly enhances the well being of nursing home residents with dementia.