I’m sharing a DPSNews.com.au article from yesterday highlighting research about the value of walking as an antidote to falls.
This of course, is yet another reason NOT to call it wandering, nor ‘manage’ walking as a challenging behaviour.
“Aged care workers are being told to encourage residents to go for a walk instead of resting after eating to potentially help to save them from some falls caused by a sudden loss in blood pressure, according to new South Australia research.”
Read the article here: Walking after meals could ‘save’ residents
I do recall Professor Steve Illfe who is an academic GP in London, presenting at the Alzheimer’s NZ Conference last year, saying how bizarre, and wrong that before his patients were diagnosed with dementia, he told them to get/keep fit and walking was one of the best exercises for that, then after dementia, he advised them to stop walking… for safety reasons. He realises this is bad advice, as it increases falls risks and impacts all sorts of other health outcomes.
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My mind drifts back to pre-ACFI days when the paper work for assessing residents in aged care facilities had a ‘claimable’ section for ‘wandering’. I thought it bizarre then and still do. Walking, wandering etc. – we should all be doing it and therefore decrease the amount of obesity in our world and the amount of oxygen flow to our brains. Thanks Kate.
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Thanks Annette… it is indeed odd how walking, which is so good for everyone, has been labelled a challenging behaviour, and so often people with dementia are restrained for wanting to indulge in it…
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Oops, I meant increase the oxygen flow to our brains above!
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Walking is the best exercise of all and allows any person, regardless of whether they have dementia or not, to maintain physical ability and independence for longer. It actually prevents falls as it maintains ability, strength, balance and muscle tone for longer.
I cannot believe someone suggesting not to walk – OMG – if you dont use it you lose it, which means someone deteriorates at a much more rapid rate. What a destructive way to see things.
There is also the fact that physical activity gets those endorphin s moving as well, so that too is a positive, as it promotes more positive mood.
Walk, do yoga, do tai chi, dance, move as much as possible i say. There is no reason why physical ability cannot be maintained.
I agree re the wandering aspect Kate.
I often say to people who suggest, negatively, re an older person who is living with dementia is ‘wandering’, that I can happily wander for hours window shopping and no one says to me I am exhibiting a behavior!!!~!~!!!
xx
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We agree on walking NOT being called wandering, and ‘managed’… most definitely! xox
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My sister, a physio, will love this!
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great! xx
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