Happy antics: holistic exercise for people with dementia

Abstract

Aim: To examine the feasibility and acceptability of holistic exercise as a physical activity for people with dementia. Participants: people with dementia 8, carers 5, volunteers 2. Happy Antics sessions: once per week for 45 minutes, every Thursday at the Alzheimer’s Society premises, Workington. Holistic exercise: Combines physical exercise with the wellness approach (Swarbrick, 2006) where multidimensional factors are taken into consideration, and which includes physical, emotional, intellectual, social, environmental and spiritual dimensions (Swarbrick, 1997, 2006; Copeland, 2002; Copeland and Mead, 2004)