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What is Love to Move? British Gymnastics’ dementia-friendly exercises

Health & wellbeing

It’s important to keep active as we age, but did you know that exercising can be particularly helpful for people living with dementia? 

Love to Move, a British Gymnastics programme offering age and dementia-friendly seated exercises to help people stay mobile and live more independently, has been trialled in Care UK care homes. The exercises are specially designed to support cognitive stimulation and help to improve memory and mobility, and our teams have observed the profound effects they have on residents’ overall quality of life. 

 

What is Love to Move? 

Love to Move was created by the British Gymnastics Foundation (BGF) as a programme of exercises developed to have physical, emotional and cognitive benefits. The simple, repetitive seated exercises use what’s called bilaterally asymmetrical movement patterns – which simply means doing different movements with the right and left sides of the body at the same time. (Think patting your head and rubbing your stomach!) 

The exercises engage the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and research has shown that they make a difference to the quality of life of older people, especially those living with dementia.  

 

The benefits of exercise 

Love to Move has been found to help older people with their mobility, balance and coordination. The simple exercises also help them to be more social and communicative, feel calmer, sleep better and even regain the ability to feed themselves. 

Exercise in general has numerous benefits for people living with dementia, including reducing the risk of falls, helping them to maintain a healthy weight, lifting low mood and supporting cognitive function. 

Explore our guide to more dementia-friendly exercises.

 

How Care UK homes use Love to Move 

Care UK’s Winchcombe Place in Newbury, Berkshire, introduced weekly Love to Move sessions to engage residents with age and dementia-friendly seated exercises. Read how the exercises have transformed life for one resident below. 

Love to Move at Winchcombe Place

Margaret’s story 

When Margaret first joined Winchcombe Place, she was reluctant to participate in group activities. The team observed that she had significant challenges understanding instructions, and her responses were limited to simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answers. Margaret’s primary activity was walking with purpose, often with no social interaction or cognitive stimulation. 

It was clear to the team that Margaret needed a tailored approach to help improve her cognitive functions and overall quality of life. They introduced Margaret to the Love to Move programme in a supportive environment and encouraged her to participate at her own pace.  

Initially, she needed a lot of assistance and encouragement to mimic the movements, but over time, the team has seen a notable transformation in Margaret’s behaviour and cognitive engagement. 

 

The Love to Move programme has had a profound impact on Margaret's cognitive abilities and overall quality of life. From a resident who struggled with comprehension and engagement, Margaret has become more interactive and cognitively stimulated. 

Vicki Lambourne, Customer Relations Manager at Winchcombe Place


Love to Move helped Margaret with:

  • Increased participation: Margaret began to show interest in the exercises, gradually transitioning from a passive observer to an active participant. With support, she started to copy the movements, showing a newfound willingness to engage. 

  • Cognitive engagement: The structured movements of the Love to Move programme require the use of both the left and right sides of the brain. Margaret's ability to mirror these exercises meant her cognitive processing and bilateral coordination had improved. 

  • Enhanced wellbeing: The physical aspect of the exercises also contributed to Margaret's overall wellbeing. The programme helped in improving her physical health, which in turn positively impacted her mental state. 

For people like Margaret, Love to Move can support further improvements in their cognitive and physical health when paired with regular assessments and tailored support. 

 

Margaret's journey highlights how targeted interventions can transform the lives of individuals in care settings, promoting a more inclusive, engaging, and supportive environment.

Vicki Lambourne, Customer Relations Manager at Winchcombe Place

How Care UK can help 

Whether it’s Love to Move or other dementia-friendly exercises, Care UK’s lifestyle teams provide tailored activity programmes that support residents to stay physically and mentally fit so they can continue to live as independently as possible. 

Interested in learning more about the care provided in Care UK homes? Visit our dementia care page for more information or get in touch with your local care home – our teams are always happy to help you. 

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