Revitalizing dementia care

Background/Objectives: The known benefits of sport and exercise for people with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers mean that physical activity could be prioritized over pharmacological treatment. Research suggests that physical activity not only enhances the overall wellbeing of PwD, but also improves the relationships and wellbeing of their caregivers. The text examines the importance of physical activity for PwD and explores whether certain types of exercise, as well as modern tools like information and communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI), are particularly suitable for this population given their different living environments, such as at home or in institutions. Methods: The study employed a qualitative design, conducting three focus groups (N = 17) in Slovenia with three distinct participant groups: informal caregivers (N = 6), physiotherapists in care homes (N = 7), and people diagnosed with dementia (N = 4). Data collection involved structured focus group discussions guided by key questions on types of exercise, challenges faced, and potential ICT and AI applications. Descriptive statistics including frequencies, means and standard deviations were used to summarize demographic data of respondents. Given the qualitative nature of the focus groups the emphasis was on thematic content analysis to identify common themes and insights supported by descriptive summaries to contextualize the findings. Results: The results suggest that regular physical activity tailored to an individual’s existing lifestyle and abilities can be essential for improving the quality of life of PwD. Although ICT and AI play an important role in promoting and monitoring regular physical activity and a sense of safety, the use of ICT and AI tools are still the exception, not the rule. Key barriers include inadequate awareness of existing solutions, cognitive decline, physical limitations, safety concerns, and limited access to appropriate programs. The study highlights the unused potential of ICT and AI for overcoming these barriers and offers solutions like personalized exercise - which refers to a physical activity program that is tailored to an individual’s specific needs, abilities, preferences, and goals - tracking, adaptive programs, and AI-driven virtual assistants that promote safety and encourage regular physical activity.