Introduction
People with dementia, or conditions similar to dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, are recommended to have a planned daily schedule. In fact, even for regular people, who are not patients of any such diseases, a planned daily routine is suggested.
The basic psychology behind this is that a person spends less time thinking about what needs to be done, rather using that same time to be more productive about everything that they are doing. The same reasoning can be applied to patients with dementia and other similar conditions.
Why is it Important?
Importance of Structure and Stability
Day-to-day life and decisions seem daunting and overwhelming to a dementia patient. Setting a daily routine helps them feel that every event is something that is predictable rather than a task that they feel uneased by.
Helping with Memory and Cognition
Routines work as long-term memory and dementia usually affects short-term memory during its initial phase. Hence, for a patient, routine is stored in their memory even when their condition worsens, allowing them to connect other memories with their memories of their routine.
Maintaining Independence and Preserving Dignity
Doing tasks that a patient is accustomed to doing helps build their confidence and self-esteem in an otherwise scenario where they feel frustrated and agitated about not being as independent as they were before they were diagnosed.
Minimizing Confusion and Reducing Agitation
It becomes stressful for caregivers to cope with the violent and agitated tendencies of an average dementia patient. In a daily routine, time passes with more ease and moments of agitation and worry are replaced by joy and connection.
Supporting Sleep Patterns
The structure of a routine builds the foundation of a healthy sleep schedule, which in turn regulates positive sleep patterns. This also has a significant impact on the patient’s wellbeing.
Improving Nutrition and Eating Habits
As with sleeping, a routine gives structure to a patient’s eating habits. Dementia patients (particularly dementia patients in this instance) require a healthy intake of regular nutrition, more so as the condition progresses in a person. A daily routine provides the patient with the familiarity to have regular nutrition intake on a daily basis.
Building a Sense of Community and Engagement
A routine involving patients going outdoors and interacting with other people can light up their day. A dementia patient can tend to feel very lonely regarding their condition and social interaction helps them feel like they are still part of a community where they are accepted and have people to count on in times of need.
Conclusion
Despite setting up a daily routine, it is essential to remember that it may need to be changed and rearranged as per the needs of the patient. This change may happen as the condition progresses and the needs and abilities of a patient change. Despite these changes, the caregiver should adapt and adjust according to what is required and build a routine based on the same as well.