The role of routines in healthy seniors

As we get older, routines play a big role in quality of life for healthy seniors. From when we are very young through adulthood, there is comfort in routines. They help us plan, help allay fear of the unknown, and they help us rest assured that things will be taken care of.  

Particularly as we get older, though, routines play an especially important role in our health. Establishing and sticking to routines can dramatically impact our day-to-day experiences, as well as our physical and mental health.

When it comes to home care, routines also provide peace of mind for family members who know that their older loved ones are being cared for, and for seniors who look forward to the company and support of a professional caregiver. 

Let’s take a closer look at routines and their importance for healthy seniors. 

A routine helps people mentally, physically, and emotionally.

There is a scariness in the unknown. And for seniors suffering from anxiety or depression, not knowing what’s ahead can be extremely troubling. Routines can help to assuage the daily fear of uncertainty in seniors.  And home care plays a big role in this for many seniors in OKC.

The routines of an in-home care provider provide structure and a sense of consistency. Those routines make it easier for seniors to develop and stick to healthy habits. The power in knowing a home care worker is coming can even increase self-management in seniors on days when their caregiver isn’t coming. 

If a caretaker visits every Tuesday and Saturday, for example, it provides a benchmark to be more aware of the date and day. Too often, one day looks like the next when living alone and isolated. Interrupting that monotony stimulates the brain and provides a routine that can be counted on.

Routines start with an individualized care plan.

Not all home care professionals make daily visits; however, that doesn’t mean that routines established aren’t followed up on each day.

For example, getting up and going to bed at a specific time establishes a sleeping schedule. It promotes quality sleep. It’s heart healthy. Sound sleep can improve mental functioning. Home care professionals can set alarms or even text and check in on clients to be sure they’re sticking to their schedules.

Eating scheduled healthy meals improves nutrition and can help prevent snacking and overeating. It also ensures the client has adequate nourishment and calorie intake. A daily schedule can include a chart to track an exercise program, hydration, nutrition, and sleep. Caregivers can check the chart and provide motivating accountability when they are in-home with their clients.

Routines can also be critically important.

While many routines are fun and help support a healthy lifestyle, others are much more critical. Particularly, medication management. 

There are many aids to help people remember to take medications. They include daily pill boxes, text reminders, and charts with boxes to check. Having a routine with a backup system to ensure clients take meds on time makes all of them work. If you take medications at 11 a.m. and it’s noon and your pill is still in the container, or there’s no checkmark on your activity list, you know you didn’t take it. Including the medication on the list of routines prevents not taking the meds or taking it more than once that day.

Parting words to consider about seniors and routines.

 

• Having fun things to do is necessary for a happy life. Hobbies do more than entertain. They often provide a sense of purpose and keep cognitive skills sharp. Healthcare professionals ensure that enjoying hobbies and activities is part of the daily schedule.
• Everyone needs a goal. It’s a reason to get up in the morning and start the day. Establishing routines that include those goals can boost the enthusiasm for life and lift depression. That helps keep people healthier.
• If the patient already has a routine they follow, healthcare professionals can find ways to assist. If limiting factors are physical, the home care professional can suggest the technology or changes that make the routines easier to follow.
• People often don’t self-care or care for their surroundings if they believe nobody will see them or visit. A routine visit from a home healthcare worker can keep the client active and ready for company.

 

For more information, call us at (405) 461-6175 or contact us today at LiveBetter At Home.