The Dementia Patient's Daily Routine

In the confusion of a dementia patient's mind a regular routine can be comforting. They may not always "know" what is coming next in their schedule, but having familiar things to do will help them to remain calm, and to be more cooperative.

Here are some tips to developing a routine for the dementia patient:

Allow plenty of time for each task.
Avoid rushing them.
Plan personal grooming and daily chores for the morning hours and plan all out of the home activities like doctor appointments and errands for the afternoon hours. This will allow you plenty of time to get these necessary jobs completed without being in a hurry.
Mix active times with more restful activities. This will help them to avoid becoming fatigued.
Break down the instructions for an activity into one step instructions. This will help the them to not become confused.
Portraying a pleasant mood will keep both of you happy and moving toward your goal for the day.
Help the dementia patient to be more aware of the time and date by having large, easy to read clocks and calendars throughout the house.
You can also use timers or alarms to remind them when it is time to do a new activity.
Be aware of the things that your loved one used to enjoy when planning outings and activities.
Keep activities short; no longer than an hour or two.
When planning a daily routine keep in mind the things that must be done each day: eating, bathing, chores, etc.
Remember to add appointments, grocery shopping and errands to the list as well as various fun activities.
Plan the most active activities for early in the day and the more restful activities for after the sun sets.
Develop a bedtime routine that you follow every night. The sequence of events will send cues to their body to relax and fall asleep.
When they wake up in the morning help them to make their bed and open the curtains or shades throughout the house. As the sun starts to go down make a point of closing the shades. All of these external cues will serve to remind the dementia patient of the proper times to do things: daytime = activity, nighttime = resting and sleeping.
Doing things at the same time each day will also help them to be successful in regulating their sleep/wake schedule and give them a measure of independence.
As much as possible, let them do things on their own.

Putting a little thought and planning into the dementia patient's schedule can make your days together much more enjoyable and less stressful. A dementia patient's routine will help the slightly unpredictable nature of caring for a dementia patient to become more routine.

Finding the time and energy to plan a daily routine doesn't have to be overwhelming. There is help!

My website DementiaCaregvingLessons.com offers help, encouragement, and instructions on this topic and many more as well as a 12 lesson course in helping your loved one to get their affairs in order. To get a $1.00 week long trial of my membership site click here.

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