Potentials of health promotional practices in long-term care

Abstract

Managing cognitive decline in later life, including conditions like dementia, poses challenges within the traditional medical models, often leading to risk of isolation, adverse drug interactions, high cost of therapy, and limited efficacy. Longstanding mind–body practices have emerged as an alternative approach to positively impact cognition and physical health in older adults, particularly in long-term care settings. In the last decade, the number of adults in the United States practicing mind–body activities has doubled. A growing body of research suggests that mind–body practices (e.g., yoga, tai chi) and other traditional physical activities can yield beneficial effects on various cognitive domains, including executive function, attention, processing speed, and episodic memory. In this chapter, we explore the integration of mind–body practices and complementary health interventions into long-term care facilities, with a cross-cultural perspective on global innovations in resident-focused care.