You can’t always be there. But we can.
Home » Tips for Organizing Your Elderly Loved One’s Schedule
As your loved one gets older, when you are caring for them, you want to make sure their schedule stays organized. Research shows that an organized schedule can help to keep your loved one less agitated, happier, calmer, and more balanced in their mood throughout the day.
Morning Schedule
Most elderly adults need to do their grooming and hygiene activities earlier on in the day. Their morning routine can incorporate these activities. Some examples of things that you might want to include in your elderly loved one’s morning schedule are getting dressed, brushing their teeth, eating breakfast, taking a walk, doing an activity, and watching television. This is also a great time to talk with family members, as later in the day your elderly loved one might be too irritated to have conversations.
Afternoon Schedule
There are also some tips for the afternoon schedule with your elderly loved one, as well. Some of the best activities for the afternoon include eating lunch, taking their medications (if this is the proper time to take them), doing a family-based activity, and taking a rest (if needed). The afternoon shouldn’t be filled with too many chaotic activities, as your elderly loved one is probably getting very tired and exhausted at this point.
Evening Schedule
The evening schedule should be light, as well. Your elderly loved one needs to stay calm. Many people who have dementia do need distracting and calming activities to do during the evening. Some of the best activities for this part of the day include eating dinner, taking their shower (if they didn’t already take it in the morning), watching a movie, cleaning up (if they still can), doing a puzzle, and getting a healthy snack before bed.
It is important to remember that not every elderly adult is going to have the same schedule. However, no matter what your elderly loved one’s schedule might be, it should at the very least be organized. The schedule should keep them in a routine throughout the day. It should also keep them calm and relaxed. If you just go throughout each day without a schedule, your elderly loved one is likely to get agitated and overwhelmed. An organized schedule is always the best when helping to care for an elderly adult. If you can not help your elderly loved one stick to an organized schedule, you can hire homecare providers to assist them, instead.
Sources: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/encouraging-wellness-older-patients