title: The Happy Antics programme: Holistic exercise for people with dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Holistic exercise for people with dementia could have psychological and physical benefits, but there is a lack of research on the experience of this type of exercise. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptance of holistic exercise among people with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A holistic exercise programme for people with dementia was designed and implemented. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to explore participants' experience of holistic exercise, transcribed verbatim and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven themes were generated from the data. They were enjoyment, relaxation, keeping active, social interaction, pain relief, learning something new and intention to continue, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current small-scale study provide evidence for the feasibility and acceptance of holistic exercise for people with dementia. In addition, participants appeared to benefit in terms of psychological and physical wellbeing.
authors.affiliation: Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UK; Alzheimer's Society, Workington, Cumbria, UK. Electronic address: khoojlyn@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Yvonne J-Lyn
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences and Law, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Schaik
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer's Society, Workington, Cumbria, UK.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McKenna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Awareness; Care-givers; Dementia; Exercise; Holistic; Wellness