Why familiar routines matter for people with dementia?

Memory problems, such as dementia, affect the way people think, remember, and perform daily tasks. Their forgetfulness makes them feel scared in places they used to know. However, there's something that can help: keeping familiar routines in their daily life.

Think about your morning routine. You probably wake up, brush your teeth, and make coffee without thinking about it. These simple patterns make you feel safe and in control. For people with dementia, similiarly aka, familiar routines make them feel more comfortable. This is because these familiar routine acts as a safety net when everything else feels confusing.

Let’s understand in detail why familiar routines matter for people with dementia.

Dementia and routine

People with dementia look at a place they've known for years and suddenly feel lost. This is scary for them and heartbreaking for families. For example:

• The grocery store where they shopped for decades might feel like a place.
• The path to their friend's house might seem confusing.

Here's what helps: going to the same places again and again. Each visit helps the brain remember. Typically, our brain has different types of memory. The brain can still remember certain habits or routines we do over and over again, even when dementia affects some parts of memory. This is called “procedural memory”, just like riding a bike, making tea, eating food, or other habits.

Research was conducted on 151,000 people living with dementia. Most of them stay at home with help from family and care services. For these families, familiar places and routines help their loved ones feel like themselves. Some common and familiar routines for them:

This research also revealed that people with dementia often develop "personal territories". These are areas where they feel safe and confident. It might be the path from home to the park or the route to their daughter's house. These territories aren't about distance, but they're about their emotional safety. For example:

A man with dementia in the research loved hiking in the mountains. Despite having dementia, he could direct the forest tracks he'd walked for years.

Another woman with dementia felt shopping in her city center because she'd done it for 30 years.

Familiar territories provide freedom and dignity:

The best part is that these safe spaces don't have to be small. People with dementia can travel far from home if they're going somewhere deeply familiar. It's not about how close something's but it's about how familiar it feels.

Build confidence through routine:

Every time people with dementia complete a routine, it builds their confidence. Going to the café, walking the same path, or visiting the same friend boosts their sense of ability and independence.

These successes matter much as they remind the person that they can still do things. They're still themselves even as dementia changes parts of their life.

The power of objects:

Have you ever noticed how people with dementia often carry certain things (e.g., keys when going for a walk or carry an umbrella on sunny days, etc.)? These aren't mistakes. They're their lifelines. Familiar objects connect them to home and safety. Other familiar objects that encourage them:

• A purse or wallet
• House keys on a familiar keychain
• A water bottle that they always use
• A small photo in their pocket
• A hat or scarf

Another example from the research: A man with dementia who always carried a flask when walking around their village. It wasn't for drinking, but it made him feel secure and connected to his routine.

Memories associated with familiar places make them stronger:

When visiting places, people often share memories connected to those spots. A café might remind them of meeting their sister for years. A park bench might bring back memories of watching their children play. These stories keep their identity strong.

Familiar routine with the doctor:

People with dementia encounter familiarity in a very unique way. They are not aware of it, but they simply feel it. It is as obvious as breathing. The same goes for a doctor's meeting or visit as well. Generally, professional support helps with:

• Continuity in care with regular check-ins helps detect problems early
• Medication adjustments can happen quickly when needed
• Families get support for their stress and burnout
• Treatment can address depression, anxiety, and sleep problems
• Having the same doctor builds trust and familiarity

Like familiar routines matter for people with dementia, having the same healthcare providers matters too. Some elderly people with dementia, when they see the same geriatric psychiatrist regularly, build trust and familiarity. This makes medical care less stressful.

Many people with dementia become anxious about leaving or meeting new people. Having video calls with a doctor from the comfort of home reduces this stress significantly. In this tech-savvy world, online psychiatrist consultation from platforms like GABA Telepsychiatry makes this process very accessible.

For families, online care also means no disruption to routines. No need to cancel activities or struggle with transportation. The doctor becomes part of the support system rather than another challenge to manage.

How to help a person with dementia?

Give them a sense of familiarity. For example:

• Start of plan: If they usually made themselves a cup of tea before they got out of bed, you should give that a try. If they read the daily newspaper after breakfast, let that sequence continue as it usually does.
• Meal times: Supper, including the cups and plates they used, should be ready at the same time every day.
• Evening rituals: If they liked taking a warm bath before going to bed, or used to watch the news at 6 PM, keep it.

What to do when familiar places stop feeling safe?

Unfortunately, sometimes the places they used to consider familiar become all of a sudden strange to them because:

• Construction on your habitual street.
• A new cashier at the grocery store.
• A change of weather that makes everything else not seem the same.

These disruptions can be really upsetting for someone with dementia. Nevertheless, with support, they can often adapt. It might take a while to get used to a new route. Having a family member, friend, or professional support a few times can help rebuild confidence.

The Takeaway

Key points about a familiar routine for people with dementia:

• Familiar places feel safe and comfortable
• Daily routines become automatic, requiring less thinking
• Known environments reduce fear and confusion
• Regular activities help maintain independence

Remember that small things matter significantly. Focusing on routines gives families something positive to work with.

Additionally, caring for someone with dementia affects everyone in the family. Worries about safety and confusion can be exhausting. Many caregivers experience burnout, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. If this happens, don't suffer in silence, as help is available. Consulting an online psychiatrist or a neurologist for neurological issues (e.g., ADHD, migraine, acquired brain injury, etc.) is the best option for maintaining good mental health as a dementia patient. Remember, your mental well-being is as important as the well-being of your loved ones.