What’s the point of training care home staff to incorporate exercise into their duties?

“Surely staff are too busy doing other things to bother with exercise.”

“It’s too late to get people exercising when they’re in a nursing or care home environment.”

These are all comments we’ve heard before. We will address the myths and misconceptions and clarify the facts about care home training.

Helping people to move, whatever their age or situation, has so many benefits. It has such a positive impact on physical health and cognitive function.

So much control is lost when we go into care, yet everyone wants to maintain their independence and dignity for as long as possible. Whether it’s to help them brush their hair, put their shoes on, hold a pen or get off the loo, it’s about a feeling of agency and control.

And with the right training, it helps carers feel as though they’re doing more than caring.

Why should you invest in training?

Training care home staff to deliver exercise classes and lead group activities isn’t about adding to their workload – it’s about transforming the care experience for older people.

With the right support, carers can confidently deliver person-centred activities that not only strengthen muscles but also bring residents together in joyful, meaningful ways. When staff spend time engaging residents in movement, even in small bursts, it creates opportunities for connection, boosts wellbeing, and restores a sense of purpose and independence.

Care home activities like these can be led by any team member—not just the activities coordinator—making movement part of everyday life rather than an occasional event. Exercise isn’t just a physical activity—it’s a vital part of living well in later life.

Mental and physical benefits

Helping people to move more often is actually preventing harm:

• Movement can improve circulation to prevent DVTs and pressure sores.
• It can help with constipation.
• Movement can improve sleep quality.
• Reduces anxiety and depression.

Activities in care lifts spirits and creates a sense of fun, especially when music is involved. Meaningful activities for care home residents fosters a sense of purpose and connection with others.

We recently ran a bespoke chair-based exercise course for staff at Kineton Manor Care Home. This exemplifies how having a manager who is aware of the importance of movement can transform not just the lives of the residents but the morale and health of the team too.

They wanted to find ways to help residents to incorporate some movement into their daily lives including those who are bed-bound and those who can participate in small groups together.

Along with learning exercises to boost circulation, mobilise joints, strengthen muscles and promote mobility, it’s also vital to learn what movements should be avoided. Knowing why the exercises are important really helps too especially when finding ways to motivate those who may be fearful or reluctant at first.

By the end of the course, everyone had progressed from learning single exercises to combining short routines; they had learnt how to use resistance bands and ways to adapt exercises to suit individuals; they could observe each other and spot mistakes – and correct them. They learnt ways to use small equipment like batons, balls, pompoms and scarves to make moving fun and inclusive. And their confidence went from zero to hero!

 

Why Move it or Lose it Training Is a GameChanger for Care & Nursing Homes

How one bespoke chair-based exercise course boosted independence, staff morale and resident wellbeing – and how your home can do the same.

 

Dispelling the Myths

“Our staff are already rushed off their feet.”

“Residents are too frail for exercise.”

“It’s too late to start once someone moves into a care home.”

We hear these objections all the time, but the evidence (and our experience) shows the opposite. With the right approach, movement becomes a timesaver, a mood-booster and a life-enabler for everyone under your roof.

 

Why Movement Matters – even (especially!) in later life

Encouraging residents to move little and often delivers tangible health gains:

• Prevents harm – Better circulation lowers the risk of DVTs and pressure sores.

• Aids digestion & sleep – Gentle activity eases constipation and promotes deeper rest.

• Lifts spirits – Music-led routines release feel-good hormones, reducing anxiety and depression.

• Restores independence – From brushing hair to getting up from a chair, movement restores dignity and choice.

For staff, learning to facilitate safe exercise transforms care from task-based to person-centred, bringing fresh purpose and job satisfaction.

 

Case Study: Kineton Manor Care Home

When Kineton Manor’s forward-thinking manager booked a bespoke Move it or Lose it chair-based exercise course, the goal was clear: make daily movement possible for every resident – bedbound, wheelchair user or mobile.

Over two immersive days, their team:

1. Mastered evidence-based routines to mobilise joints, boost circulation and strengthen key muscle groups.

2. Learned red flag movements to avoid, safeguarding residents with osteoporosis, joint replacements or cardiac issues.

3. Practised motivational techniques – turning reluctance into eager participation.

4. Progressed from single moves to short, engaging sequences set to toe-tapping tunes.

5. Gained hands-on confidence with bands, batons, balls, pompoms and scarves, for a “tool kit” of activities to dip into every day.

By the final session, staff were spotting and correcting each other’s technique, designing miniprogrammes for small group and one-to-one settings and most importantly, radiating enthusiasm that their residents could feel.

The results are transformational. You notice that residents sit taller, smile wider and ask, “When’s the next session?” Meanwhile, carers reported a renewed sense of pride: they weren’t just helping people exist; they were helping people live.

 

What Makes Our Training Different?

• Designed for care environments – No previous experience or Lycra required.

• Evidence-based – Built on 15 years of research, refinement and best practice.

• Practical and time-efficient – Routines fit seamlessly into washing, dressing or teatime chats.

• Fun, inclusive and adaptable – Suitable for mixed abilities, dementia-friendly and easy to personalise.

 

Ready to Transform Your Home?

Imagine a lounge buzzing with laughter, colourful scarves swirling and residents discovering what they can do instead of what they can’t.

Imagine carers feeling energised instead of exhausted. That’s the Move it or Lose it difference.

Book a bespoke onsite course tailored to your residents’ needs

Train multiple staff in one cost-effective session – no travel required

Receive practical resources to keep the momentum going

Call 0800 612 7785 or email info@moveitorloseit.co.uk to schedule your in-house chair-based exercise training today.

Let’s help your residents—and your team—move more, smile more and live more.

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