Love to Move – seated gymnastic programme

The Priory has got behind the Love to Move initiative designed to get older people moving and functioning better. Love to move is a chair-based age and dementia friendly gymnastics exercise programme, developed by the British Gymnastics Foundation. We are lucky to have support from PT Serena who comes to the home on a regular basis to get everyone moving to their favorite songs!

It has been specially designed to get older people moving and functioning better, as well as this, there are so many other benefits. The programme has shown to improve cognitive function, help reduce depression, improve balance, improve the ability to undertake activities for daily living and is proving a huge success for people living with dementia. Our activities assistant Kate participated in the training and is now delivering the programme on a weekly basis.

‘I can already see the benefits this programme is having on our residents, it’s a great way for residents to keep active and have fun’ said Claire.

The love to move coordination exercises are gentle and easy to follow and are being carried out as part of a small group as well as 1-1 sessions, with and without music. Claire has also incorporated the programme for our residents who are isolating to ensure they also remain as active as possible.