Dementia and developing day-to-day routines
Having a day to day routine when caring for someone with Dementia or Alzheimer's may seem a bit far fetched as no two days are a like. But it can make things run a lot smoother.
These day to day routines do not have to be set in stone but they give a sense of consistency which is very important in a Alzheimer's patients life.
While everyone has their own routine and their own way of dealing with the bad days, you can get some great hints and tips from your medical team. Once you have cared for your loved one for a while, you will have a better understanding of what to do when and how to do things.
Keeping a sense of structure and familiarity can really help. Try to keep consistent daily times for activities such as waking up, bathing, dressing, mealtimes, visitors and bedtime. This is not always easy but it will allow your loved one to originate themselves during the day.
Let your loved one know what to expect even if you feel that they do not understand. You can use visual clues to help them understand. For example, in the morning you can open the curtains to let sunlight in, or close them at night. You also use quiet, calming music to indicate bedtime.
Involve your loved one in as many daily activities as possible. Everyone likes to have a little bit of control and so giving them a choice of two outfits to wear or a choice of a hot or cold drink can really help. You could leave their clothes out for them and let them dress themselves.