A balanced exercise program for persons with Alzheimer's Disease, as for any population, should include activities that improve flexibility, balance, cardiovascular endurance (aerobic activity), and strength (weight training). For people with Alzheimer's Disease in otherwise good health, a session might start with a 5-minute walk or a series of stretches, followed by 20 minutes of an aerobic activity, 20 to 30 minutes of weight training, and ending with 5 to 10 minutes of stretching (Fiatarone, O'Brien, & Rich, 1995).

An excellent resource for persons who wish to start their care recipient (or themselves) on an exercise program at home is Exercise: A Guide from the National Institute on Aging. This is a comprehensive illustrated manual by a panel of experts with an accompanying video that demonstrates a one-hour workout that includes all four types of exercise cited above. The manual includes charts for recording participants' progress, as well as an order form for a free certificate of achievement for persons who follow the program for more than one month. The manual and video are available from the National Institute on Aging's Public Information Office (www.nia.nih.gov). To order, call 1-800-222-2225 (voice) or 1-800-222-4225 (TTY).