Living with dementia magazine May 2011

A practical guide devoted to the subject of promoting and maintaining mobility for people with dementia has been published for the first time by Alzheimer's Society*. Here, the author explains why mobility is an essential aspect of caring for people with dementia

When Promoting mobility for people with dementia: a problem solving approach was first published in 1998, very little was written about the subject. More than a decade on, this was still the case and, as the book was out of print, author Rosemary Oddy approached Alzheimer's Society as she believed the book was needed to fill a gap.

Rosemary is the former head of Leicestershire's mental health physiotherapy service and was one of the first chartered physiotherapists to be employed in a psychiatric hospital in the UK. It was during her 27 years working at the Carlton Hayes Hospital in Leicestershire that she developed a special interest in people with dementia.

Rosemary, now retired, says,

'I had always worked with older people and dementia particularly appealed to me. There was an attitude at the time that you couldn't do anything with people with dementia, but I discovered I could.

I'm a patient and innovative person and although I didn't know anything about dementia it was a case of finding my own way. All my clients were different and their problems needed different strategies, so I had to find solutions and to keep finding new ones when they no longer worked.

One of the things I realised early on was that many people were afraid of moving and that helping people to feel safe could make a big difference.'

Why mobility is important

Rosemary says,

'Our bodies are built to move. Even the most basic of movements such as getting in and out of bed, moving from the bed to another support, leaving one seat to move to another or going up and down stairs can have huge spin offs. They are good for the heart, circulation, keeping the mind occupied and a person's self-esteem.

'If people can maintain the ability to walk a couple of paces and move from one seat to another, they can feel like a different person. It must be dreadful to be treated as if you can't do anything, but in my experience people are so pleased to have the positive feelings that come from having achieved small steps.'

Get people moving

Rosemary believes that many carers don't recognise that people with dementia are still capable of doing things. She says,

'Once carers go down this negative route it's hard to break it. I'm not saying it's the job of family carers to assist people who've become immobile, that's for the professionals, but it is important to get people moving as best they can. And there is something that most people can do, you've just got to find out what it is. Most of the solutions are down to common sense.'

The book's content

The A4, spiral-bound book is aimed at both qualified nurses and care staff working with people with dementia, as well as carers. Its aim is to show people how to overcome many of the mobility problems that accompany dementia. Its messages are very positive as Rosemary strongly believes that promoting and maintaining some mobility is a realistic aim.

The book highlights the practical issues that can affect mobility and offers a range of problem-solving ideas, tips and exercises, all of which have been successfully used. The exercises are included to encourage carers to put themselves in the shoes of the person with dementia.

The ten chapters cover a broad range of topics including dementia and mobility, communication, managing fear, the environment, planning for success, making the most of touch and exercise. Key points are included at the end of every chapter to summarise the content.

There are also six fictional individuals who feature in case studies that run throughout the book and represent the experiences of people with dementia in different care settings, both at home and in care.

A summary of helpful strategies can be found at the end of the book, as well as a list of useful contacts. These strategies are also available to download from our website at alzheimers.org.uk/mobilitystrategies   The book that be purchased from our online shop for £30 from June.

Alternatively, the book will be available from Xcalibre next month. Call 01628 529240 to order.
*The book has been published in association with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.