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Small Routine Changes to Help Your Elderly Loved One

Taking Different Routes

This is because humans usually just fall into their routines. They tend to do the same things day in and day out. These tasks turn into routines. Routines can make one’s life more structured. They can reduce stress and allow someone to know what to expect. With that being said, research shows that small routine changes might be good for the elderly. Little changes can help to improve their memory. There are some small routine changes that could help your elderly loved one.

Does your elderly loved one have a preferred grocery store that they like you or their home care providers to take them to? If so, the next time you take them, go a different route. You don’t have to change up the entire route. However, if you just change one street that you go down to another one, it could help your elderly loved one. They will start remembering two different routes that you take, instead of just the one.

Changing Breakfast

Does your elderly loved one generally have the same thing for breakfast every morning? Maybe they are used to you or their home care providers making them scrambled eggs. They may even watch you cook. If this is the case, change it up just a bit. You can make them a sunny-side-up egg tomorrow morning, instead of the scrambled eggs. Turning the routine around just a bit can get your elderly loved one’s brain more active in the morning. You don’t have to do this every morning, just every once in a while would be helpful.

Changing Dinner Time

Does your elderly loved one always eat dinner at 6 p.m.? If so, try having them eat dinner at 5:40 p.m. today, instead of their normal time. This can change up their routine a bit, which you already know helps to keep their mind active. It also helps your elderly loved one to get used to small changes in their routine. Since many elderly people get overwhelmed and frustrated with routine changes, getting your loved one used to some changes can help them adjust when the unexpected changes happen.

Conclusion

These are some of the small routine changes that could help your elderly loved one. If you or the home care providers do these small changes with your loved one every once in a while, it can help improve their memory, keep their brain active, and encourage acceptance of change, as well.