By: Elizabeth Thompson
Elizabeth Thompson is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional (CMDCP), Positive Approach to Care Trainer (PAC), Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT).
Most of us have a process we go through every day, often referred to as our routine. It is not until there is an interruption that we must pause, think where we were and what we were doing, to restart the process. This blog will dive into the importance of having an established, predictable routine when caring for someone living with dementia.
Routines are important for all of us, but we often take them for granted. Someone living with dementia does not have a routine, we might wonder why they are often frustrated. According to Elizabeth Thompson, structure is especially important – what time they get up, have breakfast, get cleaned up, go about getting their clothes, when do they like to rest during the day, and when do they like to socialize. All those things empower the person with dementia if we keep them on a routine.
For many people with Alzheimer’s, they lose their short-term memory but their long-term memory lasts for a while. So, a certain routine brings them comfort, because they can remember it. “Routine sets the person up for success,” said Thompson. “It helps tasks throughout the day go smoother and it helps the caregiver.”
Routines provide a predictable and structured environment, offering a sense of stability. “It makes us feel comfortable and secure,” Elizabeth continued. “When we start to see frustration, anxiety, pacing, and needing to leave it is because of boredom. This is a reminder of the importance of structure, routine, and engagement throughout the day.”
Also, by having a routine, the caregiver is enabling the individual to function at their highest level and to be successful, allowing them to focus on their remaining abilities and maintain a level of independence. Routine and structure contribute to a better quality of life for the individual with dementia.
The routine in an Arrow Memory Care Neighborhood is different from the events calendar. The routine consists of the basics of the day with planned engagement opportunities:
It is important to do things that make sense for that time of day and create opportunities for purposeful engagement.
If you are a caretaker looking to create a routine for your person living with dementia at home, look at your own personal schedule and see what is going to work for both you and your person with dementia. “Keep it simple in the beginning. You can always add to it and adjust it,” said Thompson. “Instead of focusing on what they cannot do, focus on what they can do. And using the TV as a babysitter is not helping anyone.”
Some tips for your home routine:
“We see a much quicker decline in people with dementia that just sit and do nothing all day,” Elizabeth commented. “If we want them to live their best life, we need them to have times of engagement and social interaction, physical exercise, and cognitive stimulation.”
When it comes to routine, keep it simple and work with your loved one’s remaining abilities. Adding routine and structure to your day is going to benefit both of you. Your days as the caregiver will be much less stressful.
