We had another great day at Among Friends this week. One of the activities that both volunteers and participants enjoy is chair yoga. The Alzheimer’s Society provides a list of all the benefits of appropriate exercise for those with memory loss:
- improving physical fitness – maintaining strong muscles and flexible joints can help people maintain independence for longer
- improving the ability to dress, clean, cook and perform other daily activities (as these may be performed more effectively if someone is fitter or more supple)
- helping to keep bones strong and reducing the risk of osteoporosis (a disease that affects the bones, making them weak and more likely to break)
- improving cognition – recent studies have shown that exercise may improve memory and slow down mental decline
- improving sleep
- providing opportunities for social interaction and reducing the feeling of isolation
- reducing the risk of falls by improving strength and balance
- improving confidence
- increasing self-esteem
- improving mood.
Participants and volunteers alike had a great time engaging in a variety of activities and getting to know one another. Chair yoga is an especially fun activity for participants and volunteers alike.
We hope that more residents of Pierce and St. Croix counties will take advantage of this new service available to individuals with memory loss and their caretakers. Give us a call or drop us an email if you are interested.
a social respite program 