Managing Challenging Times of the Day

Having a general daily routine when caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s helps caregiving run smoothly. Your  routine won’t be set in stone, but it will give you and your loved one a sense of consistency, which is very beneficial to everyone.

While every family will have their own unique routine, here are some ideas for establishing routines to handle the most challenging times of day, such as evenings.

• Try to keep consistent daily times for activities such as waking up, mealtimes, bathing, dressing, receiving visitors, and bedtime. Keeping these things at the same time and place can help orientate your loved one.
• Let your loved one know what to expect even if you are not sure that he or she completely understands. Try using cues to establish the different times of day. For example, in the morning, open the curtains to let sunlight in. In the evening, put on quiet music to indicate it’s bedtime.
• Involve your loved one in daily activities as much as he or she is able. For example, your loved one may not be able to tie his or her shoes, butcould put his or her clothes in the hamper. Clipping plants outside may not be safe, but your loved one could weed, plant, or water. Use your best judgment when deciding wha'is safe and what your loved one can handle.
• If your loved one is in the early stages of the disease, you may want to keep a Daily Routine Notebook to write down routines for the morning, afternoon and evening so you and your loved one can keep organized. A Daily Routine Notebook will also help your loved one manage his or her tasks as independently as possible. In the early stages, maintaining independence is key.