The Importance of Routine in Dementia Care

Most people benefit from the structure provided by a well-devised routine. Having routines in place reduces a lot of the stress that comes from the constant need to make decisions and manage your time, benefiting both your emotional and physical wellness. 

Interestingly, even though dementia changes a lot about how a person thinks, reacts, and behaves, the benefits of routines persist — and in some ways, routines can become even more important for managing the anxieties that typically accompany dementia.

At Advanced Medical Care, our neurology team offers comprehensive treatment strategies for patients with dementia, including helping you implement lifestyle changes like routine-setting. Here, learn how an established routine can help your loved one — and you — manage dementia more effectively.

The important role of routine

For anyone living with dementia, the world can seem unpredictable, disorienting, unfamiliar, and even scary. Memory loss, confusion, and communication problems are hallmark symptoms of dementia, making even regular activities stressful and unpleasant.

Routines introduce a dose of predictability and provide a stable framework for your loved one’s day. When activities occur in a regular pattern, uncertainty and anxiety are minimized while feelings of comfort and control are enhanced.

Of course, those benefits aren’t just for your loved one. Caregivers benefit, too. Having a consistent schedule in place helps reduce decision fatigue while making your day more manageable. Routines also support enhanced communication with your loved one’s caregivers by making it easier to notice changes in dementia symptoms.

Multiple benefits

People with dementia typically exhibit unpredictable or unpleasant behaviors that can include agitation, aggression, or emotional outbursts. Many people with dementia experience “sundowning,” a worsening of symptoms toward the day’s end.

Routines provide a level of consistency that can reduce the frequency and intensity of unpleasant behaviors, helping your loved one adjust, relax, and cope. When an event occurs in a predictable manner, it can be a source of comfort and familiarity instead of something threatening and scary.

Maintaining a routine doesn’t just support physical care — it also fosters emotional connection, improved communication, and a better sense of self-esteem. Even simple routines, like brushing hair or setting the table, offer a sense of self-worth and purpose while tapping into long-term memories and a deep sense of comfort and calm. 

Having established routines can help you identify changes in your loved one’s behavior patterns so you can provide more effective support. For example, if your loved one often becomes upset at mealtimes, you can work on adjusting that part of the routine — changing timing or location, for instance — so it becomes a more comfortable experience.

Building a routine for your loved one

Everyone’s life and memories are unique, and that means your loved one’s routine will be unique, too. Ideally, you’ll begin by identifying key activities that already make up your loved one’s daily schedule. 

Look for activities they’ve enjoyed for a long time — starting the day with a cup of coffee or taking a walk in the afternoon. Incorporate those familiar activities into the routine helps your loved one maintain a sense of personal identity.

At the same time, it’s important to be flexible, paying close attention to moods and behaviors. If your loved one is more alert and energized in the morning and quieter in the afternoon, tune their schedule to suit those behaviors to reduce conflict and frustration.

Listening to music, looking at photo albums, doing simple crafts, and taking short walks are great ways to fill in gaps between familiar activities, like bathing and mealtimes. If your loved one is having an especially difficult day, adjusting their routine or skipping activities is perfectly fine, too. 

Remember: The goal is to create a calm, comforting experience, not to stick to a rigid schedule.

Support for you and your loved one

Having an active management plan in place is a critical part of caring for someone with dementia. To learn how we can help, request an appointment with the caring team at Advanced Medical Care in Forest Hills, Queens, and Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, New York.