Abstract
BackgroundThere has been increasing interest in the use of non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical exercise, to improve the well-being of nursing home residents with dementia. For reasons regarding disease symptoms, persons with dementia might find it difficult to participate in exercise programs. Therefore, it is important to find ways to successfully promote regular exercise for patients in residential care. Several quantitative studies have established the positive effects of exercise on biopsychosocial factors, such as self-efficacy in older people; however, little is known regarding the qualitative aspects of participating in an exercise program among older people with dementia. From the perspective of residents, we explored the experiences of participating in a high-intensity functional exercise program among nursing home residents with dementia.MethodsThe participants were eight elderly people with mild-to-moderate dementia. We conducted semi-structured interviews one week after they had finished a 10-week supervised high-intensity exercise program. We analyzed the data using an inductive content analysis.ResultsFive overreaching and interrelated themes emerged from the interviews: “Pushing the limits,” “Being invested in,” “Relationships facilitate exercise participation,” “Exercise revives the body, increases independence and improves self-esteem” and “Physical activity is a basic human necessity—use it or lose it!” The results were interpreted in light of Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. The exercise program seemed to improve self-efficacy through several mechanisms. By being involved, “being invested in” and having something expected of them, the participants gained a sense of empowerment in their everyday lives. The importance of social influences related to the exercise instructor and the exercise group was accentuated by the participants.ConclusionsThe nursing home residents had, for the most part, positive experiences with regard to participating in the exercise program. The program seemed to increase their self-efficacy through several mechanisms. The instructor competence emerged as an important facilitating factor. The participants emphasized the importance of physical activity in the nursing home.
Highlights
There has been increasing interest in the use of non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical exercise, to improve the well-being of nursing home residents with dementia
This study provides insight into how older people with dementia experience participating in an exercise program
Few studies have reported on the experiences of people with dementia with regard to exercise; to the best of our knowledge, nursing home residents with dementia have never before been asked to relate their experiences of participating in a high-intensity exercise program
Summary
There has been increasing interest in the use of non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical exercise, to improve the well-being of nursing home residents with dementia. From the perspective of residents, we explored the experiences of participating in a high-intensity functional exercise program among nursing home residents with dementia. Physical activity is globally recognized as a positive health influence across all ages [5]. Despite this awareness, nursing home residents spend up to 94 % of their time sitting or lying down, the residents are capable of participating in independent or assisted activities [6, 7]. Several recent clinical trials [11, 12] and systematic reviews [13,14,15] have demonstrated that individuals with dementia can receive the beneficial effects of
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