The university graduation thesis treats with motor activities of dementia suffering people in elderly care homes as well as with the comparison of motor activity possibilities both in open and secured wards. Features of dementia, risk factors, the importance of elderly people’s and those suffering from dementia physical activity, the impact of motor activities on the course of illness, impediments to motor activity encouragement, the organization of physical activities within care homes for elderly people as well as various professional workers’ role in encouragement the dementia suffering elderly have been discussed in the theoretical part of the thesis.
The empiric part, however, has rested on the qualitative research carried out with the involvement of semi-structured interviews with the employees of various professional profiles engaged in two elderly people care homes. Actually, the research examined the dementia suffering people’s possibilities to take up physical activities, the frequency and ways of their inclusion into motor activities, their impact onto elderly people’s state of health, the distinctions between the open and secured wards, and finally the work staff encouraging the elderly people to take part in the motor activities.
The ascertainment of the research give proof of the dementia suffering people of both wards possibilities of taking up motor activity of everyday occurrence, whereby being carried out both in a group or individually. Definitely, going for a walk, guided exercises, individual therapeutic treatment as well as the incorporation of motor activities into daily tasks have been found the most frequent. Undoubtedly, motor activities have a positive impact onto physical abilities, state of health, social contacts, and onto dementia suffering people’s maintaining their independence. Though, particularly some distinctions in organization have been stated in both wards, which have been based on the residents’ various needs and abilities.
The research has also proved the entire staff’s role in encouraging the motor activities to be of importance, since contributing the highest number of the dementia suffering elderly people incorporation into motor activities being personalized to an individual person, by motivation, corporation of various professional profiles as well as by creating a stimulating environment. Furthermore, it has also been stated that both care homes have already been implementing numerous good practices in the field of the dementia suffering people’s encouragement to take up motor activities. For this reason, the preservation and further development are significant in order to gain a vital contribution to the keeping of functional abilities, the quality of life, independence, and people’s dignity.
Besides, the research has also pointed out the important role of social work in the encouragement of the dementia suffering people’s motor activities. Already at the time of admission to the home, social workers take part in planning the treatment; inform the people suffering from dementia and also their relatives about the possibilities of taking part in various activities as well as about motor activities among other things. The professional staff members’ cooperation contributes to the holistic approach which has a positive impact onto the dementia suffering people’s well-being, independence, and quality life.
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