- Understand Your Loved One’s Individual Needs: Tailor their routine to their specific needs.
- Begin the Same Way Every Day: Establish a consistent morning routine by doing something simple, like opening the curtains first thing.
- Keep Things Simple: Focus on a few core activities.
- Be Consistent: Do tasks in a similar order and at around the same time every day.
- Use Meals as the Anchor: Anchor your routine around connecting over meals.
- Involve Your Loved One: Let your loved one contribute to the routine to help their independence.
- Be Patient and Prepared to Adapt: Be prepared to adjust your routine as your loved one’s needs change.
- Visualise the Routine: Use clocks, calendars, and visual aids such as labels.
- Do Meaningful Tasks: Choose tasks that foster engagement and a sense of purpose.
- Remember Rest and Relaxation: Build quiet times into your routine.
We are all creatures of habit. Our brains love routine and the sense of predictability it brings. How many of us sit down to a favourite show every day? Don’t most people wake up at the same time every weekday, brush their teeth, eat breakfast, and get dressed? And if one little thing is off, like waking up late, or not having your favourite t-shirt available, it can throw off your whole day! When you have been diagnosed with dementia, routine is still just as important, if not more so. Routine can help with predictability, skill retention, and relaxation. So how can you develop the small steps that lead to a routine with significant impact?
Understand your loved one’s individual needs
You should tailor your loved one’s routine to their personality, energy levels, and any specific strengths or challenges. Your loved one may thrive on a rigid schedule or fare better with more flexibility. Work on a routine together that is best for them.
Begin the same way every day
Consistency in the morning is a great way to reduce disorientation and create a calm, reassuring start. Something as simple as opening the curtains to the natural light of the day and sharing a greeting can be the straightforward thing that starts a good day.
Keep things simple
Rather than overdoing your and your loved one’s schedule, try instead focusing on just a few engagements every day. These small steps are easier to manage and keep up over time.
This doesn’t need to be detailed, rather just a relatively predictable pattern to bring your loved one a sense of calm and purpose. Be spontaneous and support them in anticipating what’s coming next while not feeling tied down.
Be consistent
When you do tasks in a similar order and at around the same time every day, you help build the comfort and predictability that is so beneficial for people living with dementia. Though, it is also important to be guided by them, so you understand their needs, and are able to meet them.
Find out more about what we do as part of our permanent care routines.
Use meals as the anchor
Mealtimes are a natural anchor for so much of our lives. Meals break our days into manageable chunks and bring a sense of familiarity. They’re also a good time to take certain medications or just connect and chat. So, try to have simple, nourishing meals where you and your loved one connect over beloved, familiar foods.
Involve your loved one
Let your loved one lead the planning of their routine as much as possible. This continues a sense of independence and control.
Be patient and prepared to adapt
As you develop adaily routine, you can expect diversions or setbacks.Be prepared to adjust your routine as your loved one’s needs change. If your loved one takes a nap, for example, be ready to reschedule your walk to a different time of day. Or, if they aren’t that interested in an activity or hobby, try moving on to something that might be more relaxing or hands-on. You should be guided by your loved one and meet them where they are at.
Find out about our flexible respite, a form of temporary care for when caregivers have a busy day.
Visualise the routine
What’s going to happen next? We all prefer to know. That’s why visual cues and reminders are a great idea. You can use clocks, calendars, and even labels on objects to reinforce aspects of daily tasks, like when to do each one and where key things are.
Do meaningful tasks
Simple tasks like gardening, folding laundry, or taking a walk are essential parts of your daily life that need to be done. As they’re so important, these meaningful activities bring a great sense of purpose and engagement. So, resist the urge to take these things off their plate, and instead encourage your loved one to keep participating in activities that suit their interest and abilities.
Remember rest and relaxation
Everyone needs rest. When you build quiet times into your routine, you’ll help prevent overwhelm and the likelihood of unmet needs. You could look at some cues – for example, a warm drink or some soothing music works well to signal that it’s time to wind down or that the day is ending. And when it’s time to wake up, gentle, gradually brightening lights or soft, relaxing alarms are brilliant for waking up slowly.
Find out what we offer in our care services.
Implement these small steps for a routine that provides comfort and reduces stress. Contact us to learn more about the care we offer and the different ways we can help you and your loved one.
