Dr Rhonda Cohen and Professor Trish Hafford-Letchfield to use Saracens Sports Foundation funding to evaluate the impact of exercise on wellbeing of people with dementia.
Dr Rhonda Cohen and Professor Trish Hafford-Letchfield from Middlesex University have received funding from Saracens Sports Foundation to evaluate the impact of exercise and other psycho-social activities on the wellbeing of people with dementia and their carers in a community-based setting.
The announcement coincides with today's launch of the local Hendon Dementia Club by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor David Longstaff at Hendon Town Hall.
Dementia Clubs offer inclusive social settings for people with dementia and provide advice and information for carers and their families. The Hendon Dementia Club will run on the last Thursday of every month from 2pm to 4pm and will include tea and cakes, gentle exercise and activities involving music and games.
A fundamental aspect of the new Middlesex research will be to evaluate the support provided by Dementia Clubs as a service in the community.
"While research has shown that regular exercise can increase fitness and physical functioning in people with dementia, our study will provide a better understanding of the specific impact of Club activities on people with dementia and their carers," explained Dr Rhonda Cohen.
“The results of our study will help develop new services locally and nationally in the future."
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, the number of people in the UK with dementia is predicted to rise from 850,000 in 2015 to just over two million by 2051, as life expectancy increases.
Saracens to fund Middlesex Dementia Club research
The announcement coincides with today's launch of the local Hendon Dementia Club by the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor David Longstaff at Hendon Town Hall.
Dementia Clubs offer inclusive social settings for people with dementia and provide advice and information for carers and their families. The Hendon Dementia Club will run on the last Thursday of every month from 2pm to 4pm and will include tea and cakes, gentle exercise and activities involving music and games.
A fundamental aspect of the new Middlesex research will be to evaluate the support provided by Dementia Clubs as a service in the community.
"While research has shown that regular exercise can increase fitness and physical functioning in people with dementia, our study will provide a better understanding of the specific impact of Club activities on people with dementia and their carers," explained Dr Rhonda Cohen.
“The results of our study will help develop new services locally and nationally in the future."
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, the number of people in the UK with dementia is predicted to rise from 850,000 in 2015 to just over two million by 2051, as life expectancy increases.