How Can Routines Benefit Older Adults with Alzheimer’s?

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The progression of Alzheimer’s disease causes changes in a senior’s short-term memory that can make it difficult to keep up with daily tasks. For this reason, Alzheimer’s caregivers often use routines to help seniors understand what will happen throughout their day. In addition to providing the consistency seniors with Alzheimer’s need to reduce anxiety, set routines can also provide the following benefits. 

 

Reduced Chances of Medication Mishaps

Seniors with Alzheimer’s are at greater risk for potentially damaging health effects caused by medication mix-ups and forgotten doses. This is especially true for seniors who are responsible for taking their medication on their own as well as those with multiple caregivers. By having a set time of the day when each dose is taken, the risk of having a mishap is greatly reduced. 

 

Continuity of Care

It can be confusing for seniors if each caregiver does things differently, and what may seem like a simple change, such as going to bed at a different time each night, can throw off a senior’s sense of time. When set routines are agreed upon and followed by each caregiver, seniors benefit from knowing their needs will be met every day. 

There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to address if their families opt for professional in-home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.

 

Increased Independence

As seniors with Alzheimer’s become familiar with their routines, they’re more likely to have days when they can manage their needs with greater independence. Being able to remember what happens next can provide the confidence seniors need to continue to follow their symptom management plans. 

Some seniors only require help with a few daily tasks so they can maintain their independence. However, those living with serious illnesses may need more extensive assistance. Luckily, there is professional live-in care Livingston, NJ, seniors can rely on. Home can be a safer and more comfortable place for your loved one to live with the help of an expertly trained and dedicated live-in caregiver.

 

Better Overall Wellbeing

Throughout life, routines provide a sense of balance to a person’s day, and this is even more important in the senior years. Having a set routine means a senior can wake up each day knowing when he or she will bathe, get dressed, have meals, and enjoy favorite activities or hobbies. All of these factors play a role in overall happiness and wellbeing, and simply knowing each one has a place in the daily routine can boost overall quality of life. 

If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, medication reminders, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Livingston families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s. To create a comprehensive in-home care plan for your loved one, call us today.