Dementia & Daily Routines

Why Is It Important to Understand Individuals’ Routines with Dementia?

Daily structure helps decrease the undesired behaviors that often accompany dementia routine disruptions, such as catastrophic reactions and sundowning. When caregivers provide a structured daily routine for their loved ones living with dementia, irregularities and anxiety can be reduced, creating a much more peaceful existence for the entire family.

Maintaining a predictable environment relieves anxiety commonly known to trigger the worst behavior issues. Creating a daily activity routine at home can help your family member better understand their environment, lowering the chances for catastrophic reactions (extreme irritation) and sundowning.

How to Establish a Workable Daily Routine for a Dementia Patient

While you likely already have some routines in place, it may take several days of patient observations to develop a reliable daily schedule for your loved one. The following suggestions may help you set up a comfortable, predictable routine for your loved one with dementia:

Create Structure Around Personal Hygiene

Schedule bathing (showers or baths) on the same days of the week around the same time of the day. If your loved one seems to best accept a shower before breakfast, try to maintain this arrangement. When it becomes clear that they prefer to brush their teeth, comb their hair, and get dressed at a certain time, stick to that timing and sequence of events as much as possible.

Make Housekeeping a Team Effort

After breakfast and dressing, encourage your loved one to engage in daily household chores with you. Ask for their help with the dishes. Next, ask for help with the laundry (sorting socks or folding sweaters will give your loved one something to do, and also be helpful). 

Continuing to involve your loved one in such daily household tasks keeps them active, increases their self-esteem, and encourages the maintenance of motor and cognitive skills.

And remember, it isn’t the outcome of such tasks that’s important – it’s the process. If your loved one matches a white sock with a black sock, do not correct them! Let them complete the task, praise them for their help, and move along. (You can fix the socks later if you want!)

Share Meals and Meal Prep

In between each task, offer a break for a cup of coffee, snack, or lunch. Remember that meals should be served and eaten at the same times each day. Stock the kitchen with the foods and snacks your loved one prefers. Keep them involved with meal planning decisions and include them in the cooking process, if it’s safe to do so.

Schedule Physical Activity

Getting regular exercise is important for those with dementia. Find physical activities your loved one enjoys and reserve time every day for some exercise. Even if the two of you just take a walk around the block, it’s a great way to get some fresh air and gain a serotonin boost!

Include Favorite Hobbies and Pastimes

You may find that a good chunk of the day is occupied with your loved one’s favorite pastimes. If they’ve been watching the same television program for years, by all means, put it on the daily schedule. But also find other, more engaging activities to include in each day, such as reading a book, crafting, working on a jigsaw puzzle, or gardening. 

Wind Down at the End of the Day

Evenings can be difficult for those with dementia. It’s a common time for them to become confused and agitated, leading to interrupted sleep, and sometimes even wandering. This is the time to play soothing music or put on a favorite familiar TV show, turn down the lights a bit, and make sure they’re comfortable and have everything they need to wind down.

Create a Daily Checklist

Once you’ve figured out what your loved one prefers to do and when simply make a daily schedule to follow. Add medication reminders to the schedule as an additional layer of protection against missed doses. Maintaining a daily checklist for dementia patients provides much-needed normalcy and routine adherence. To keep your loved one engaged with their schedule, consider putting them in charge of checking items off each day’s schedule. 

When you know that something is going to disrupt the normal schedule, such as a doctor’s appointment, talk about it ahead of time and create a special checklist for that day.

Get In-Home Support for Your Daily Dementia Routine

A predictable, familiar-feeling routine that includes activities tuned to their ability level is key. Through these routines, you’ll create a predictable environment that brings comfort and understanding to their now-confusing world. Offering your loved one a day without surprises is the best way to help them relieve anxiety and avoid undesired verbal and physical behavior.

Our compassionate dementia care experts can help you provide your loved one with a consistent structure and routine. Schedule a complimentary consultation with your local Homewatch CareGivers to learn more!