title: Language-enriched exercise plus socialization for older adults with dementia: translation to rural communities.
abstract: Interventions that stimulate and engage individuals with dementia physically, cognitively, and socially offer promise for improving health and well-being and for potentially slowing functional losses with disease progression. We describe a volunteer-based intervention that combines physical exercise, cognitive-linguistic stimulation, and social outings for older persons living with dementia in rural communities. One-year follow-up data, although clearly preliminary (n = 8), suggest stability in global cognition, mood, and aspects of physical fitness. Challenges to implementing dementia interventions in rural areas are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Asenath
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Rue
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Felten
authors.forename: Kathie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duschene
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Suanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hafez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007808:Language Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012951:Socialization; D014838:Volunteers; D000078329:Workforce