Consider offering Exergaming as meaningful activity in day care centres for people with dementia
Guidance
Meaningful activities for people with dementia have proven value for their social health. Exergaming is an innovative way of exercising in a gaming environment. This movement activity may be experienced as meaningful by the persons with dementia, is considered fun to do and has benefits for them as well as for their relatives.
Explanation and example
Exergaming was compared to usual activities in a cluster Randomized Controlled Trial among day care centres for people with dementia. In this study exergaming consisted of interactive cycling using a stationary bicycle (i.e. home trainer) connected to a screen. The screen displays various routes which the participant can select and this mimics the experience of cycling outside, thus offering simultaneous physical and cognitive stimulation.
Positive effects in favour of exergaming were found on cognition and social functioning in people with dementia and on carers’ distress related to their relative’s neuropsychiatric symptoms and the carers’ sense of competence. Furthermore, persons with dementia, family carers and staff were satisfied with the exergaming intervention.
Exergaming can thus be considered a meaningful activity, and a good alternative when outdoor physical activities are not possible because of weather conditions or safety risks (fall incidents, wandering).
Themes
Carer distress Carer sense of competence Effectiveness Exergaming Meaningful activities
Target groups
Care organizations & professionals Day-care centre volunteers, employees & managers Family carers People living with dementiaType of evidence
Joeke van Santen (INDUCT ESR7)
Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT)
References
Van Santen, J., Dröes, R. M., Twisk, J. W., Henkemans, O. A. B., van Straten, A., & Meiland, F. J. (2020). Effects of Exergaming on Cognitive and Social Functioning of People with Dementia: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, , 21(12):1958-1967.e5. ISSN 1525-8610, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2020.04.018
As training manager of INDUCT, I am responsible for the overall coordination and organization of the individual and network-wide training of our 15 ESRs. My main task is the organization of five INDUCT Summer and Winter Schools. Together with the local and management team, we identify needs and interests among the ESRs, compose a varied program for the week including training sessions, project meetings and social and networking events, invite academic and non-academic expert speakers, organize practical matters, and afterwards we evaluate the event, write a report, and try to incorporate all suggestions in our future training events.