Why Is a Routine Important in Memory Care?
When it comes to memory care, having a daily routine is so important. It can really make a difference! If you are looking for a memory care in Phoenix, you want to make sure that they advocate the importance of and help their memory care residents have a routine. To ensure this, when you are touring the memory care in Phoenix, ask if they establish routines for their memory care residents and what a typical routine looks like.
Now you may be asking yourself, “why is a routine important in memory care?” Here’s why:
A Sense of Predictability
When it comes to memory care and especially in the early stages of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, both residents and their families are getting used to the new diagnosis so having a sense of order to their day is a comfort.
The family knows what their loved one is expecting day to day, and the resident can better navigate their new world by doing the same things each day. It also helps reduce anxiety in residents, as they have a sense of security in what they’re doing each day.
They Tend to Remain Accessible
Having a daily routine is stored in a person’s long-term memory, rather than in their short-term memory as it’s doing the same thing every day. Dementia tends to affect a person’s short-term memory first. Since routines are not stored in that part of the brain, they tend to remain accessible to the resident, even as the disease progresses into the middle stages. By having a daily routine, the chances of the resident remembering what they do every day is greater.
Difficulty Learning New Things
As we just mentioned, dementia affects short-term memory loss first. This means that it’s hard for memory care residents to learn new things, as that new learning would be stored in their short-term memory. Remembering new instructions, or even focusing on something new for a short time, can be more difficult. Daily routines combat this as they tend to engage the resident in things they are already familiar with, meaning they don’t need to learn anything new.
A Reinforced Sense of Independence
Those who are newly diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, unfortunately, know that down the line they will not be able to do many of the same everyday tasks they’ve been doing their entire life. This means it’s even more important to continue to do them as long as possible, which is what having a daily routine does. This gives the resident a sense of independence and helps them build self-esteem. All of these things can help them keep these skills longer than if they didn’t have a routine in place. As you can see, having a daily routine is so important in memory care. We here at BridgeWater Assisted Living know this and establish daily routines with our memory care residents. If you are looking for a memory care in Phoenix, we encourage you to reach out to us to learn more.