Changing the focus: Engaging people with dementia in physical activity

Changing the focus:
Engaging people with dementia in physical activity

Further project information can be found at the Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre.

The challenge

Lower and declining activity levels are common for people with dementia – however they also likely contribute to a decline in physical and cognitive health, increasing the risk of chronic disease and falls, reduced quality of life, and social isolation. This study is developing and evaluating a new model of care to facilitate community-based physical activity engagement for people with mild dementia.

Our impact

Creating a new model of care for community-based physical activity engagement for people with mild dementia.
Developing new resources to support training of health care providers and information for people with dementia and their carers.

Project leads

Co-led by Monash University’s Professor Keith Hill and Dr Angel Lee the project has been undertaking research since 2022 and will end late in 2025.

Project resources & knowledge

Training program for physical activity providers View

Staying Active with Dementia Booklet View

Project media and articles View

Example modules of E-course for physical activity providers interested in working with people living with dementia

Key project information

Official name:
Changing the focus: Facilitating engagement in physical activity for people living with mild dementia in a local community
About the research:
This study aims to address and improve the low physical activity levels among people with mild dementia through a novel shared decision-making and motivational support program, "Changing the Focus".
Our approach is underpinned by shared decision making with the person with dementia and their carer to improve and maintain function, independence, safety, and quality of life.
The research team is aiming to recruit 60 community living older people with mild dementia and their care-partner in Frankston or Mornington Peninsula region, as well as the City of Casey, City of Greater Dandenong, City of Kingston, and City of Bayside in Victoria. Participants are supported with the help of a research therapist to engage in targeted community-based physical activities for 12-months, to progress towards the recommended physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes per week. Three home visits (baseline, 6- and 12-months) and seven motivational support phone calls (within the first six months) by the research therapist helps support the participant to stay engaged.
Some highlights:
- Primary outcomes include participants continuing with the program after 12-months, physical activity per week and program acceptability.
- Secondary outcomes include physical performance, mental health, wellbeing measures, and impact on care-partners.
- Reach, maintenance, safety (falls, other adverse events) and an economic evaluation is being conducted.
- Results will inform feasibility, potential benefits, and challenges associated with implementing this innovative physical activity program.
- Findings will guide future large-scale studies and contribute to enhancing physical activity opportunities for people living with mild dementia.
Project timing: October 2022 – December 2025
Chief Investigators
- Professor Keith Hill (Monash University)
- Dr Angel Lee (Monash University)
Co-investigators
- Associate Professor Michele Callisaya (Peninsula Clinical School, Monash University and Peninsula Health, University of Tasmania)
- Dr Claudia Meyer (Bolton Clarke and Adjunct, Monash University)
- Dr Morag Taylor (Neuroscience Research Australia and the UNSW)
- Dr Katherine Lawler (La Trobe University)
- Professor Pazit Levinger (Nari and Adjunct with Monash University)
- Associate Professor Susan Hunter (University of Western Ontario)
- Associate Professor Dawn Mackey (Simon Fraser University)
- Associate Professor Elissa Burton (Curtin University)
- Professor Terry Haines (Monash University)
- Associate Professor Natasha Brusco (Monash University)
- Dr Christina Ekegren (Monash University)
- Dr Amelia Crabtree (Monash Health)
- Ms Lisa Licciardi (Monash University)

For further information please contact Professor Keith Hill: keith.hill@monash.edu or Dr Angel Lee: angel.lee@monash.edu

National Centre for Healthy Ageing