How Recreational Therapy Can Aid in Cognition for Individuals Living with Early-Onset Alzheimer's

June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month! Did you know almost 5% of Alzheimer’s cases are diagnosed before the age of 65? This is known as early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer's Association identifies more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. If we do the math, approximately 300,000 live with the young-onset form of the disease. Roughly 1 in 9 people over the age of 55 are diagnosed with some form of dementia every year, and social isolation causes about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia according to the Center for Disease Control.

There are many ways to help adults and seniors living with brain change. EmpoweRT provides non-pharmacological approaches combining recreational therapy (RT) and exercise science to meet you or your loved one's needs, including persons living with early-onset Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

There are many ways to enhance your brain activity and keep your brain and body active, but the most significant ways are exercise and participation in meaningful recreation. A study published last year by The Alzheimer’s Association found that patients with early onset form of Alzheimer’s who exercised for at least 2 1/2 hours a week had better cognitive performance and fewer signs of Alzheimer’s than those who didn’t. Other studies have also found that physical exercise has other beneficial effects, including slowing the rate of cognitive decline in healthy people as well as those at risk of dementia, and those who already have it. RT uniquely utilizes exercise as part of active recreation participation for our clients.

Research for persons living with dementia who engage in meaningful recreation showed outcomes related to "improved mood, reduced agitation, and improved quality of life. 20-60 minutes of activities daily with skill level and interest well matched to that of the person living with dementia have been shown to have the most benefit" (de Oliveira et al., 2015; Kolanowski, Litaker, & Buettner, 2005). Recreational therapists receive specialized education and training to develop such therapeutic skillsets and outcomes.

Along with the physical aspects of recreation, EmpoweRT aims to help the secondary concerns that come with brain change as well. Experts estimate that up to 40 percent of people with Alzheimer's disease suffer from significant depression, according to the Alzheimer's Association. With these statistics, it is crucial that people living with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia engage in programming that helps not just their physical well-being but their overall health.

Due to social isolation, and lack of community connection, many older American's tend to spend most of their time indoors. Combined with all of these physical, mental and situational barriers, EmpoweRT aims to help our clients get outside in nature as much as possible! It has been shown that as little as 10 to 15 minutes outdoors can be highly beneficial, especially for someone living with dementia, which on top of physical exercise, provides a chance to engage the senses, and an ability to spark memories with familiar surroundings.

So what might a recreational therapy session look like? Well, that’s up to the patient. We aim to provide services that participants feel engaged and stimulated by incorporating past or new leisure interests to help achieve their goals. Keeping their bodies moving in turn keeps their minds active. It truly is person-centered! Recreational therapy encompasses a range of opportunities with examples of sports, yoga, animal-assisted therapy, passive/active games, and expressive therapies, such as music, art and dance. We will find what works for you and adapt it to meet your needs. Reinvent your passion.

To learn more about how EmpoweRT creates individualized recreation therapy services and to inquire about a free consultation please visit:

Services | Mysite (empowerrectherapy.com)

Empowering Adults Aged 50+ To Live An Active Leisure Lifestyle with EmpoweRT

EmpoweRT understands that no single approach is the right one for every individual. Our recreational therapy and exercise programming affords us a giant toolbox of resources to meet the diverse needs of adults aged 50+. We are able to adapt programming for all ability levels to empower you to achieve your wellness goals in the comfort of your own home and throughout the community.

Research suggests that by the age of 50, physical decline begins if you do not regularly exercise. Remaining physically active can be challenging as we age with potential barriers to overcome, especially in the realm of health, wellness, and leisure. In fact, a lack of community programming for adults aged 50+ with disabling conditions has left many gaps, that can lead to rehospitalizations, falls, isolation, and cognitive declines. So, what are the main reasons EmpoweRT bridges the gap left in the wake of regular leisure and exercise programming offered to this age group?

Recreational therapy minimizes health and perceived aging barriers to make recreation and exercise accessible to all ability levels. Every person needs a purpose.

1. Accessibility. EmpoweRT not only creates person-centered, goal-oriented programming for adults aged 50+, they actively work to reach individuals who may not have purposeful leisure or exercise programming available to them in any other way. They meet you where YOU are! This aids in improving functioning in an array of areas from cognition, motor skills, emotional well-being and much more. Many programs assume participants can be picked up/dropped off at certain locations throughout the day and this leaves adults aged 50+ with disabling conditions in their homes, alone, for long stretches of time without the proper leisure, and community engagement they require and deserve. EmpoweRT can fix that!

EmpoweRT is here to pick up right where your rehab services left off. Those discharged physical, occupational, and speech therapy goals can be carried over into therapeutic leisure activities and exercises you enjoy led by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS).

2. Continued Therapy Services. For some, it is not realistic for the patient or their family/caregiver to continue exercises after discharge due to overwhelming physical, cognitive, and emotional barriers. In fact, many discharged patients end up declining and regress as a result. RT can assist with continued exercises, but also can utilize what you or your loved one finds interest in to build and expand upon existing goals.

Mom doesn't like to exercise, but she loves dogs. The CTRS can facilitate animal assisted therapy as a holistic, creative approach to have mom work on mobility, balance, strengthening, and cognitive goals simultaneously decreasing anxiety symptoms. RT integrates purposeful activities such as walking the dog, completing dual (brain and body) tasks such as grooming, petting, and decision-making skills to achieve functional outcomes.

3. Empowerment and Quality of Life. Quality of life is not a secondary service outcome; it is at the core of what we do. RT provides hope and empowerment by minimizing barriers for those living with stroke, depression, and progressive disorders such as dementia, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease to participate in meaningful, recreation activities. When other therapies are discharged, recreational therapy restores hope that you and your loved one are not alone in this fight and there is a full life to be lived.

EmpoweRT tackles all these components with the utmost care, holistic person-centered approach; working with healthcare professionals to ensure the most effective leisure and life outcomes for our clients. Empowering those aged 50+ to live the most meaningful leisure lifestyles possible, with the least barriers to getting there.