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Swimming

The benefits of swimming for a person with dementia

The mental and physical benefits of exercise are good for a person with dementia. Swimming can be a good way for the person to improve their mood and wellbeing, especially if it’s an activity they have enjoyed in the past.

Swimming will improve cardiovascular health, and also help to boost the person’s mood, self-confidence and make them feel more positive.

The person may have less anxiety after a swim and enjoy being able to socialise with others at their local swimming pool.

It’s also a low impact form of cardiovascular exercise, meaning it won’t trigger any joint pain.

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The physical benefits of swimming include:

  • Improves endurance

  • Improves heart health

  • Improves muscle strength and tones muscles

  • Offers a whole-body workout, using virtually every major muscle group

  • Helps with weight loss

  • Done regularly, it may also help to reduce blood pressure

  • Finally, swimming can also help to increase the person’s appetite, which may be a good thing if the person is not eating as much as they used to.

Dementia-friendly swimming sessions are often available for people with dementia and their carers. Enquire at the person’s local pool to see what they have to offer.