Every day can look different when caring for a person living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. The progression of the disease and behavioral changes can be difficult to predict and manage. Routines are beneficial for a variety of reasons. Many people living with dementia respond well to structure and familiarity. Some experience a decrease in symptoms like agitation when following a daily routine. Caregivers also benefit from organization, which decreases the stress of trying to figure out what to do next. With these ideas for building a daily routine, both you and your loved one with Alzheimer’s can have a smoother day.
Below are a few daily routines you can implement for your loved one with dementia. We’ll share a morning routine, plans for activities during the day, mealtime, and an evening wind-down routine. All these routines can help ensure a seamless day that promotes health and wellness for both you and your loved one. Keep in mind that all routines should be implemented with respect to your loved one’s current routine and preferences.
Morning routine: A familiar way to start the day
The morning routine can set the tone for the day and ensure your loved one does hygiene tasks and has their first meal. For many people with dementia, the morning is one of the best parts of the day. They are refreshed and have the energy to manage more, which allows you to assist with tasks that may be more difficult at other times. Here are key elements of a morning routine:
Maintain a consistent waketime
Many people with Alzheimer’s or dementia have chronic sleep issues, which can exacerbate the symptoms associated with the disease. Practicing good sleep hygiene can help mitigate some of these factors. Good sleep hygiene involves sticking to a regular sleep schedule, including a consistent wake-up time. During the winter’s shorter days, you might consider using a daylight alarm clock to start the day off with the gentle wake-up of a gradually brightening light. After they awaken, ensure your loved one is wearing their hearing aids or glasses if they use them.
Make hygiene tasks part of the morning ritual
With age or as dementia progresses, a person may be less inclined to perform hygienic tasks. However, preserving oral health by brushing your teeth or cleaning dentures is important to maintaining good health in advanced age. Similarly, bathing regularly can help people feel good about themselves and fresh for the day. You may need to remind your loved one to do these tasks or eventually help them.
Each morning, remind or assist them with these tasks. If your loved one gets intermittent bathing assistance from a home health aide or home care provider, washing up with a washcloth and washing their hands and face in the morning can be enough for the days they do not fully bathe. Remind your loved one or help them to brush their teeth, floss, use mouthwash, or practice any other oral hygiene they need.
Simplify getting dressed with two choices
If your loved one needs support choosing clothing for the day, offer them two simple outfit choices. Giving options helps maintain your loved one’s sense of independence, but limiting them ensures they won’t become overwhelmed by choices. Be sure to select options you know they’ll like and be comfortable in that suit the plans and weather for the day. Before starting breakfast and medications, finish any remaining hygiene or grooming steps, such as lotions, deodorant, makeup, and hair.
Activity time: Play every day to engage the body and mind
It’s important to encourage mental stimulation for your loved one. Consider a certain time of day to be “activity time” on as many days as possible. Many activities for people at different stages of dementia can be performed alone or with a caregiver. Remember that some days will be better than others for certain activities, so be prepared to change or stop them if needed.
Also, be aware that confusion and agitation can worsen as the day goes on. Because morning is often one of the best times of the day for people living with dementia, it can be a good time for more complicated tasks. After breakfast, consider doing some of these mental, physical, or social activities.
Mind exercise examples
Mind exercises help to keep your loved one cognitively active, which benefits their overall well-being and can help with confusion and agitation. Try some cognitive challenges with your loved one early in the day. These can be a wide range of activities based on their preferences. Consider word puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, trivia, or reading the local news. You also might try reminiscing by looking through old photos or listening to and talking about their favorite music from the past. Sorting items can help calm the mind and body for people in later stages of the disease.
Physical activity ideas
Staying active as you age is essential for maintaining physical and mental health. Depending on your loved one’s physical abilities, some light exercise could be beneficial. Going for a walk or doing some light housework could keep your loved one moving and give them a sense of purpose around the home. If they have mobility challenges or you can’t help them, stationery tasks like folding laundry can engage a range of muscles and the mind.
Other fun activities that can be done independently or with a family member, like singing and dancing, can be fun. There are many options for physical activity if your loved one has decreased mobility.
Social engagement tips
Social interaction is important for maintaining everyone’s emotional well-being. Being around other people can reduce your loved one’s sense of isolation and improve their mental state in addition to the cognitive stimulation of talking with loved ones or other people. Be sure to schedule social activities when they are up for it, and remember that too many people might overstimulate your loved one. If this happens, be prepared to cut visits or social activities short to alleviate anxiety and agitation.
Consistent mealtimes helps energy, nutrition, and medication
Having meals around the same time daily can help your loved one maintain a familiar schedule. Like all of us, they become hungry around the same time each day, so establishing consistent mealtimes will help keep their energy and blood sugar stable.
Many older adults struggle to get the nutrition they need due to aging-related concerns. A decrease in appetite is a common issue. If this is the case for your loved one, be prepared for them to eat outside planned mealtimes if they are hungry. Have snacks on hand for these situations. Also, consider adding nutritional drinks to the meal plan to give your loved one essential vitamins and nutrients.
If your loved one takes any medications multiple times per day, it’s possible that they’ll have a medication to take before or after eating a meal. Planning to have meals at the same time each day will help keep them nourished, their medication on schedule, and your expectations of daytime tasks consistent.
Evening wind-down: Screen-free, consistent bedtime
Some people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia experience increased confusion or anxiety in the evenings, a phenomenon known as sundowning. An evening wind-down routine can help ease end-of-day agitation and prepare your loved one for a restful sleep.
Play soothing or familiar music
Music is a powerful tool when it comes to dementia. It can easily be used as an activity or strategy for reducing anxiety. Playing soothing music in the evenings as you prepare for the nighttime routine can help to set the tone and calm your loved one.
Stop screen time before bed
Too much screen time before going to sleep can negatively impact the quality of rest. Instead, try reading together, playing cards, looking through photo albums, or even doing a gentle creative activity in the evening. It’s important to keep it simple while also keeping your loved one awake until a healthy bedtime.
Blue light from digital screens, like smartphones and tablets, suppresses our body’s natural secretion of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate our sleep. If it’s possible to keep your loved one from looking at screens in the hours before bedtime, that may help them feel sleepy more naturally.
Maintain a consistent bedtime
Just as with waking, keeping a consistent bedtime is important to ensure your loved one is getting enough quality rest. Going to bed too late, too early, or at varying times can disrupt their night’s sleep and negatively affect the next day. This can be more challenging when the sun sets early in the winter, but keeping the lights on until bedtime can help promote healthy sleep hygiene.
Before bedtime, help your loved one with hygiene tasks, like brushing teeth and bathing. Keep their room dark and cool to help with sleep quality (but be sure to leave any nightlights on if necessary to prevent falls if they get up during the night).
Keeping a daily routine has many benefits for both your loved one and you as their caregiver. Familiarity and routine prove helpful in keeping people with Alzheimer’s from becoming confused or overwhelmed. Daily routine can relieve your stress by providing a plan for each day, allowing you to avoid the struggle of working out what you should be doing at any given time. If you’re looking for ways to add consistency to your loved one’s life, try one of the ideas above. You may notice both of you can move through the day with more ease and confidence when you know what to expect.
