Dementia-friendly swimming gives care home residents a 'sense of freedom'

Residents of specialist care village, Belong Crewe, have been making waves at dementia-friendly swimming sessions, which have been designed to enhance mobility, appetite and general well-being.

'Increasing flexibility'

With around 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, research suggests low impact exercise such as swimming, can be beneficial for physical and mental health and can improve the quality of life for people in all stages of the condition. Swimming in particular, has the added benefits of reducing anxiety, increasing flexibility and improving sleeping patterns.

Belong Crewe’s experience coordinator, Sharon Bull, said: “Residents are having a wonderful time at the dementia-friendly swimming sessions. It is often believed that dementia can prevent people from taking part in activities that they used to enjoy, so it is wonderful to see residents having such a great time taking up swimming again.

“We have certainly seen participants’ overall well-being and agility increase as a result of the sessions and we look forward to introducing more residents to the idea.”

The swimming sessions are specifically tailored to the needs of older people, with care home workers on-hand to support residents at all times.

'I feel a sense of freedom with my limbs'

Ray Knott, a resident at Belong Crewe who attends the swimming sessions, commented: “I find swimming very relaxing, I feel great afterwards and get a better night’s sleep. I am usually restricted to a wheelchair but in the water I feel a sense of freedom with my limbs. I can also swim more than I thought I would be able to.”

A study conducted by Swim England, the national body for swimming in England, found that those who swam around twice a week, over a period of two years, had significantly better executive function on tasks compared to sedentary older people who did not swim.

Mike Farrar, Swim England group board chairman and chief executive officer of the NHS Confederation, said: “For too long, national guidelines have concentrated on the cardio vascular benefits of exercise undertaken by healthy people, rather than on those who are less fit or have long-term health conditions.

“Activities like swimming really do have the potential to be a game-changer in supporting the health of this nation, especially at a time when cuts to services means less money for long-term care.”

Swim England has been supported by the Department of Health’s Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund to develop and implement the Dementia Friendly Swimming Project – a programme which enhances the swimming experience of those living with dementia and their carers by improving facilities and removing barriers.

Designed in conjunction with Alzheimer’s Society, the project conducts leisure centre audits, including environmental changes, to ensure each facility is dementia-friendly, and has trained over 500 swimming instructors to understand the needs of people with dementia.

'No is restricted from taking part'

Margaret Harrod, project support officer for Dementia Friendly Swimming, said: “Staying active is so important after a diagnosis of dementia. Research suggests that swimming can help reduce anxiety and improve the mood of people with the condition, as well as providing effective low impact exercise for people. The unique properties of water means that unlike other activities, no one is restricted from taking part.”

Belong Ltd operates villages providing a range of care, housing and support options for older people. The organisation is also a registered domiciliary provider and can support people in their own home, through its Belong at Home service.

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