Caring While Moving: Case Studies on Physical Activity and Dementia Caregiver Well-Being

Background/Objectives: Many community-dwelling Americans with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias rely on family caregivers to help meet their increasing care needs. These caregivers experience increased stress related to caregiving as well as more sedentary lifestyles that lead to the development of chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) and poorer health outcomes. Physical activity interventions for both the caregiver and person living with dementia have the potential to address these issues. We aimed to identify key factors that should be considered in tailoring physical activity interventions for dementia family caregivers. Methods: Two case studies of dementia family caregivers are presented that describe the role of physical activity as it relates to their own health and the effects of caregiving. One caregiver was in the early stages of caregiving while the other provided the perspective of a caregiver after the death of the person with dementia. Results: While both caregivers participated in physical activity, their case studies reveal opportunities to optimize physical activity interventions to support members of the caregiving dyad: (1) targeting mitochondrial fitness-the ability of mitochondria to maintain energy homeostasis with aging-so participants can mitigate the onset of NCDs, fatigue, and overall health outcomes; (2) promoting the self-care and psychological benefits of physical activity such as improved mood and social connectedness; and (3) improving the accurate perceptions of participants' health and physical activity with specific measurable markers of physical activity. Conclusions: These case studies demonstrate the key features in the development of psychoeducational interventions to promote physical activity in dementia caregiving and will be used in future intervention development.