Dementia-Friendly Exercise and Engagement Strategies
Story Cottage Podcast Transcript
Guest: Samantha Stipp, Owner of Through the Ages Fitness
In this episode, Story Cottage welcomes back Samantha Stipp, owner of Through the Ages Fitness, to continue the conversation about fitness and dementia. Samantha shares her approach to creating dementia-friendly exercise classes, how her theme-based sessions engage residents, and the importance of modifying activities for different cognitive and physical abilities.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
Moving into exercise and dementia friendly activities. So what types of exercise or movement activities are you guys typically incorporating in classes at Story Cottage?
Samantha Stipp:
Yeah, this is my favorite question to answer! Earlier I mentioned that Through the Ages Fitness is a theme-based company. It’s different from normal exercise classes where you're just doing simple bicep curls. We really focus on being intentional. Each class we teach — whether at Story Cottage or elsewhere — has a theme. The reason for this is to stimulate memory recall, allow residents to reminisce, work them physically, and connect them socially too. For example, today I'm teaching a class with the theme "Spring Picnic." We go through the whole preparation process: grabbing the basket, packing essentials, and all the movements correlate to the story. This brings individuals into the present moment and hopefully takes their mind off the fact that they’re exercising. Some people don’t like traditional workouts, so making it fun and meaningful keeps them engaged.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
That’s so cool. I honestly love the theme concept! I feel like that’s something I haven’t heard of before, and it makes it so much easier for older adults to engage.
Samantha Stipp:
Yes, we’ve gotten great feedback over the past five years. And honestly, who doesn’t love a good theme? When you make something fun, people want to join!
Story Cottage Interviewer:
Moving into the next question — how do you modify exercises to accommodate different ability levels and cognitive stages?
Samantha Stipp:
Yeah, so when it comes to physical modifications, we demonstrate them clearly. For instance, if someone can’t fully bend their knee, we show how to reduce the stretch or adjust posture. We also provide options for seated and standing exercises. Some residents prefer to stay seated, so we ensure they can still fully participate without having to stand. Cognitively, we work with all different levels — high-functioning, mid-functioning (like adult day centers or assisted living), and lower-functioning, like memory care. For memory care specifically, we focus more on storytelling. Instead of relying on verbal engagement from the residents — which can sometimes be limited — we tell the story ourselves as they follow along physically. For example, we might narrate, "We’re walking to the park for a picnic," or "We’re picking up our heavy basket," and guide their movements accordingly.
It helps them stay mindful and present without needing to verbally respond.
Story Cottage Interviewer:
Then Samantha, next question: How do you keep residents engaged and motivated to participate in the fitness classes?
Samantha Stipp:
Keeping them motivated is where our themes and storytelling really shine. It creates excitement because they’re always wondering what the next week’s theme will be. Another big part is instructor encouragement. All of our instructors motivate residents by cheering them on, celebrating their efforts, and gently pushing them to do what they're comfortable with. We also use a lot of eye contact — making sure they feel seen and supported while exercising. And relationship-building is key. When residents like and trust their instructors, they want to come back. That personal connection makes a huge difference.