Receiving Care - Building New Routines [Video]
Transcript
Hi, I'm Sivea Key, and welcome to Retirement Safety Zone. Today we're talking about caregiving from a slightly different perspective, the perspective of the person who is receiving the care. First, we'll look at unconscious expectations of caregivers and the complaints of care receivers. Then, we'll go over five tips for dealing with emotional challenges experienced during the transition from living independently towards needing care, and we'll go into some depth on each one. We'll learn about things that you and I can do for our loved ones who are experiencing this big change in life.
We've come to our fifth and final tool for helping loved ones who are receiving care, working together to build new routines, routines that accommodate changing abilities. An article on beverlysdaughter.com states that over a quarter of adults over the age of 65 experience symptoms of anxiety and depression that significantly impact their day-to-day life, "The toll aging takes on one's mind and body can cause significant psychological distress as we lose our independence and can't live the way we once did. While it may sound simple, studies have shown that routines can improve the lives of our loved ones. By reducing anxiety and depression, it can help improve sleep and even increase safety. There's also a science to setting up an active routine." Continues the writer, "With a bit of planning, you can introduce a productive and fun routine that helps your family member worry less and enjoy life more."
Focus on empowering your loved one. That means finding ways to help them feel more in control of their lives and more fulfilled by their lives. Begin by working together to build a list of things that they enjoy. Then start the outline for their week. For all activities, take into account things your loved one may no longer be safe doing alone, and be sure to schedule those activities for times when they can get the help if needed. Don't forget to include chores and regular exercise. Exercising three to four times a week has been shown to improve physical and emotional health.
Chores can count as exercise if they're physically challenging, but something as simple as going for a walk can make a big difference in quality of life. Plan ahead for meals. Consider comfort foods and familiar dishes, as well as making the necessary changes to their diet for any health concerns. If your loved one is still able to cook and shop, maybe it's something you can do together! Otherwise, make sure that they have the help they need to get it done. My 85-year-old friend started using Instacart during COVID, and she has never stopped. She likes being able to order exactly what she wants, having it come to her door, and not have to deal with driving and hauling groceries, which is pretty difficult with a walker.
Any routine works best when it includes fun or fulfilling activities and if it's consistent enough to become a habit. Match the routine as much as possible to their past habits. Are they an early riser or a late riser? Do they usually take a walk in the afternoon or call their granddaughter in the morning? Is your loved one an introvert or an extrovert? Having time with people is important to almost everyone, but what that looks like can be very different for each person. For example, you might want to schedule some group activities for an extrovert, but set up one-on-one activities. For an introvert, keep in mind that for most seniors, activities take longer, so plan for extra time and some rest afterwards. Some people would like to include a nap, and that can be very important for health too, so make sure that nap gets written in there and make sure the plan is flexible but has a consistent rhythm. Doing activities in the same sequence each day helps seniors with memory issues get into the groove.
One thing that the article doesn't talk about is helping people keep track of their days by adding special activities for specific days of the week. You might be shocked at how quickly you can lose track of days and dates when you retire. The folks I've seen who make that shift most gracefully seem to just naturally pick certain days for certain activities in their schedule. It makes it easier to keep track of the week when you can say, "It's Wednesday. That means we go to bingo." Or, "It's Sunday, so we're going to church, and on Friday I have dinner with my friends."
To help a new routine become a familiar habit, make sure to post the schedule in an obvious place. You could pin a favorite calendar with a schedule on it in the kitchen or in the living room, or maybe put up a whiteboard with colorful pens to list all the activities day by day. If your loved one has dementia, you might consider posting a schedule of activities that are specific for each room. For example, post an easy-to-read hygiene routine in the bathroom to help remind them that they should brush their teeth and take a shower.
As with every one of our five tools, respecting your loved one's desires is key to success. Using these simple steps, you can help build a fulfilling routine that gives your loved ones something to look forward to without the constant reminders of what they can't do. They may feel healthier and happier. In fact, many of us might benefit from developing a more fulfilling routine. For more details, you can check out the article by clicking the link in the description below this video.
Thank you for spending time with me today. I hope you found this helpful, and if you did, please give us a thumbs up or share this information with your friends. Subscribe to our channel if you want to continue to learn about ways you can help others and ways that you can protect your family and your retirement. Thanks, and have a great day.
Next Steps
Looking for more information about giving or receiving care? You can find all of our posts about caregiving here.
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