Importance of Routine for those with Dementia during COVID-19

By: Kris Chana, CEO at Chelsea Place Senior Care

I was really hoping by now that this was all just a bad dream. Unfortunately, that is not the case and I believe that the COVID-19 outbreak will be with us for a while. Therefore, it is extremely important that we talk about how essential a daily routine is for your loved one. If you are caring for your mom, dad, spouse or relative then this is for you.

Routine is important whether you live with your loved one or you care for them from a distance. Prior to COVID-19 you may have had an established routine. It may have been something that you developed over a couple of years to find the best routine for you and your loved one.

This is super important for you if you’re the primary caregiver especially because you relied on this routine to give you the “respite” you deserve during the week so you could handle the emotional stress of caring for your loved one. Not only is this routine important for your own sanity and emotional well-being but it is also extremely important for the person you are caring for.

As our loved ones develop dementia and they have a cognitive decline they may not remember what they did or who they talked to but it is like their body subconsciously remembers the routine. If their routine changes it can easily cause them to experience frustration, anger, anxiety, stress and even more confusion.

If your loved one was used to a certain daily routine then their body was subconsciously programmed to follow that routine. That routine became a very important part of their daily life that provided stability and comfort. If that routine is disrupted or taken away, the person with dementia may feel like there is a void in their life. To them it will feel like a loss as if they were missing something. The difficulty is they may not be able to explain what is wrong or why they feel anxious, angry or frustrated.

Therefore, it is extremely important if you are the primary caregiver to find ways to establish a new routine. If you have suddenly found yourself stuck at home with your loved one, here is what you can do.

Make a schedule and develop a new routine for your loved one’s day. This could be breakfast via FaceTime with your daughter on M, W, F and your granddaughter on T, Th. Participate in Chelsea Place LIVE at 11:11am, which is a FREE daily livestream that includes chair exercises, games, trivia, sing-a-longs and more. Followed by lunch and an afternoon nap or favorite TV show or gameshow. Then end your day with a walk around your neighborhood if possible. Visit us online to watch LIVE - https://www.chelseaplacecare.com/live/

Regardless of the schedule you decide is best, the important thing is that you establish a routine for the sake of you and your loved ones health and wellbeing. We may not know how long this COVID-19 lasts and whether or not we get back to our old routine, however, it is the routine that is important especially for those with the early onset of dementia due to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.

If you are caring for your mom, dad, spouse or a loved one, we are here to help! Receive a FREE copy of Florida’s 5 Step Guide to Senior Care by simply calling our senior care expert hotline at 941-677-7233 or visit https://www.chelseaplacecare.com/ and click on the “Free Senior Guide” to download a PDF version.