Moving together - a collaborative approach to tailoring exercise programs for dementia residents

Due to challenges in interprofessional collaboration, physical activity programmes are not always offered correctly to nursing home residents with dementia and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Examples of psychiatric symptoms include agitation, depression and anxiety.

Aim

The aim of this project is to improve collaboration between caregivers, family members and volunteers for nursing home residents with dementia and challenging behaviors. This would allow personalized exercise to become a standard part of daily care for these residents.

Approach

Together with caregivers, family members and volunteers, we’re developing a programme to improve collaboration, which will then be implemented in practice. After 6 months we will measure if this programme has improved interprofessional collaboration, and whether it leads to less agitation in residents and improved satisfaction/less stress for caregivers and family members.

Expected results

Improved collaboration could lead to better-coordinated exercise activities tailored to people with dementia, which could be offered at the right moment. We expect to improve the well-being of residents and the (job) satisfaction of caregivers and family members.