Activity ideas for people with Alzheimer’s

September is Go4Life Month—a celebration of the rewards of physical activity for older adults. People with Alzheimer's and dementia benefit from regular physical activity. Exercise can help keep muscles, joints, and the heart in good shape over time. Here are some ways to help a person with Alzheimer's be more active: Help get the activity started or join in to make the activity more fun. Be realistic about how much activity can be done at one time. Several 10-minute "mini-workouts" may be best. Take a walk together each day. Exercise is good for caregivers, too! Make sure the person with Alzheimer's disease has an ID bracelet with your phone number if he or she walks alone. Check your local TV guide to see if there is a program to help older adults exercise, or watch exercise videos made for older people. Add music to the exercises if it helps the person with Alzheimer's disease. Dance to the music if possible. Break exercises into simple, easy-to-follow steps. Make sure the person wears comfortable clothes and shoes that fit well and are made for exercise. Make sure he or she drinks water or juice before and after exercise. For more information about exercise and physical activity for older adults, visit https://go4life.nia.nih.gov. Share this information on social media: #Exercise can help people with #Alzheimers and dementia feel better, maintain a healthy weight, and keep their muscles, joints, and heart in good shape. Get tips for helping a person with Alzheimer's get up and active: http://bit.ly/2HqLlvw #Go4LifeMonth