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Exercise for dementia and memory loss in Colorado Springs
Exercise can’t cure dementia, but it can help someone living with memory loss stay stronger, steadier and more engaged in the moments that matter. And staying active is one of the most powerful things anyone can do for brain health.
TogetherWON trainers specialize in older adults and adapt every session for cognitive changes, with simple one-step instructions, a calm pace, favorite music and visual cues. We train in your home in the Colorado Springs area, with family and caregivers welcome, and lead group classes in memory care communities.
Last updated
Body
Leg strength and walking practice for the movements that keep someone independent: standing up, walking, stairs and getting in and out of a car.
Brain
Movement paired with simple thinking tasks and pattern activities, at a pace that challenges without overwhelming.4
Balance
Supported balance practice that builds confidence on two feet and lowers the risk of falls.5
What research says about movement and the brain
Exercise isn’t a cure, but the evidence that staying active supports the brain keeps growing.
- of dementia cases worldwide are linked to 14 risk factors that can be changed, including physical inactivity1
- 45%
- growth in the hippocampus, a key memory area, after a year of aerobic exercise in older adults2
- 2%
- a week of strength training improved attention and decision-making in women aged 65 to 753
- 2×
- later, women with more leg power at the start of a study had better thinking skills6
- 10 years
Changes you may notice, and how we adapt
Dementia affects everyone differently, so every session is built around the person in front of us.
Trouble following several steps
One step at a time
Short, simple instructions, one direction and one task at a time, with each movement shown as well as explained.
Feeling overwhelmed
A calm, familiar setting
Training at home avoids the noise and choices of a busy gym. Fewer words, fewer options and a slower pace make it easier to take part.
Movement that feels stuck
Music and visual cues
A favorite song or a marker on the floor can give the brain another signal to follow. One of our clients trains to the Beach Boys and Roy Orbison.
Less steady on their feet
Strength and balance for daily life
Sit-to-stands, step practice and supported balance work for the movements that keep someone independent at home.
Fewer chances to connect
Exercise together
Partner activities and family members joining in add social connection, and caregivers join the TogetherWON app for free.
Good days and hard days
Flexible sessions
Every session adjusts to how the person is doing that day, and progress is measured in small, meaningful wins.
Exercise at every stage
Training looks different as needs change. Here’s how it fits at each stage, always with guidance from the person’s doctor.
Build cognitive reserve
Noticing memory changes
Challenging cardio, strength training and moving-while-thinking drills, the habits linked with a healthier brain.
Keep doing what you love
After a diagnosis
Regular strength, balance and brain-body training, with routines set up early so they become familiar habits and family learns alongside.
Simple, familiar routines
As needs grow
Shorter instructions, favorite music and the same routine at the same time of day, with a caregiver helping between sessions.
Group classes in the community
In memory care
Professionally led group classes for memory care and assisted living residents, who join seated, standing with support or independently.
Tips for exercising with someone who has dementia
A little practice between sessions helps. These simple habits make it easier for both of you.
- Pick the same time each day, when energy is usually best
- Give one instruction at a time, and show the movement as you say it
- Do the exercises alongside them, so they can mirror you
- Play music they love to set the pace and the mood
- Keep a sturdy chair or counter within reach for balance
- If frustration builds, stop and try again later, and celebrate every effort
Caregivers and family members join the TogetherWON app for free, so you can see the exercises and follow progress together.
This program is for
- People noticing memory changes who want to stay ahead of them
- People living with mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia
- Families who want a parent to stay mobile and engaged at home
- Caregivers who want safe, simple exercises to do together
- Memory care and assisted living communities looking for group classes
How we adapt training for memory loss
Get to know the person, not just the diagnosis
Your free consultation covers health history, what the person enjoys, what they still do well and what the family hopes for. Family members are welcome to join.
Keep it simple and calm
One instruction at a time, shown as well as said, with a slower pace whenever the brain needs more time to process.
Use music and cues
Favorite songs and visual markers on the floor give the brain another signal to follow when movement feels stuck.
Celebrate small wins
Progress is measured in what matters to the family, like a few steps without a walker or standing up from a chair with less help.
How much does exercise for dementia cost?
In-home training uses our standard plans, from $198 to $720 a month, month to month, and caregivers join the app at no cost. Long-term care insurance can sometimes help, so ask us whether a policy might qualify.
Guided
$198a month
For people who are comfortable exercising independently but want an expert to create their program, oversee their progress and provide accountability.
- Live one-on-one training: 1 in-person session a month
- Personalized Body • Brain • Balance programming
- Personalized activities in the app between sessions
- Trainer oversight and program adjustments
- Trainer messaging between sessions
- Optional extra start-up session in your first month: $90
Most popular
Consistent
$447a month
For people who want regular coaching, progression and accountability.
- Live one-on-one training: 1 in-person session a week
- Personalized Body • Brain • Balance programming
- Personalized activities in the app between sessions
- Trainer oversight and program adjustments
- Trainer messaging between sessions
Intensive
$720a month
For people who want the highest level of live coaching, hands-on guidance and support.
- Live one-on-one training: 2 in-person sessions a week
- Personalized Body • Brain • Balance programming
- Personalized activities in the app between sessions
- Trainer oversight and program adjustments
- Trainer messaging between sessions
For families
Caring for a parent with memory loss? You can book the free consultation for them and be there for it, and we’ll show you how to help between sessions. Our guide for families covers how to bring up exercise gently.
How to help an aging parent start exercisingBook a consultation for a parent
“Kristen is a picture of warmth and kindness mixed with knowledge and expertise… This program adjusts to the needs of clients based on injuries and lifestyle changes — it is excellent.”
Client story
Exercise with Dementia and Parkinson's: Brenda's Story
Brenda, a former English teacher living with dementia and Parkinson’s-type symptoms, trains with music, visual cues and one-step instructions, and has taken steps without her walker.
Read the storyLearn more on the blog
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Frequently asked questions
Can exercise help someone with dementia?
Yes, in ways that matter day to day. Exercise can’t cure dementia or stop it, but it can help someone stay stronger, steadier and more engaged, and keep doing everyday things like walking and getting up from a chair.
Research also shows that combining movement with thinking tasks helps both thinking and physical function in older adults, including people with mild cognitive impairment.
Is it safe for someone with dementia to exercise at home?
Yes, with the right setup. We start with a consultation and movement assessment, keep a sturdy chair or counter within reach, use supported balance work and adjust each session to how the person is doing that day.
Check with their doctor before starting, especially if they have heart disease or a recent change in their health.
How do you keep someone with dementia engaged during a session?
By keeping it simple, familiar and fun: one instruction at a time, favorite music, visual cues and activities built around what the person enjoys. We slow down when the brain needs more time and celebrate small wins.
Do you lead exercise classes in memory care communities?
Yes. We bring professionally led Body • Brain • Balance group classes to assisted living and memory care communities in Colorado Springs, Monument and the Tri-Lakes area. Residents take part seated, standing with support or independently.
Group training for senior living communitiesSources
- Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. Lancet. 2024;404(10452):572-628. View source
- Erickson KI, Voss MW, Prakash RS, et al. Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108(7):3017-3022. View source
- Liu-Ambrose T, Nagamatsu LS, Graf P, Beattie BL, Ashe MC, Handy TC. Resistance training and executive functions: a 12-month randomized controlled trial. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(2):170-178. View source
- Gavelin HM, Dong C, Minkov R, et al. Combined physical and cognitive training for older adults with and without cognitive impairment: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ageing Res Rev. 2021;66:101232. View source
- Sherrington C, Fairhall NJ, Wallbank GK, et al. Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;1(1):CD012424. View source
- Steves CJ, Mehta MM, Jackson SHD, Spector TD. Kicking back cognitive ageing: leg power predicts cognitive ageing after ten years in older female twins. Gerontology. 2016;62(2):138-149. View source
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