One of the challenges many seniors face is a lack of structure and routine in their day. At Capital City Nurses, our companionship care program provides a compassionate caregiver to help your loved one create personalized, meaningful daily routines.

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Daily routines for seniors are essential to build predictability in the day. They also help structure the day, ensuring the individual has things to do that provide them with physical activity and mental stimulation. As with anyone, having routines for a senior is essential for overall well-being. It is also a critical aspect of early and more advanced Alzheimer's and dementia care programs to help seniors remain in their homes for as long as possible.

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Having a predictable routine that is still flexible enough to allow the senior to take advantage of opportunities to get out in the community and interact with others is a goal for our senior companion services in McLean, VA. At Capital CityNurses, we work with the senior and the family to develop these routines that add to the comfort and confidence the senior experiences while living at home.

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What Makes a Good Daily Routine?

Our in-home care staff works with the senior and the family to create specific segments of the day to complete in the morning,afternoon, and evening. For example, having a set time to get up in the morning, followed by a personal hygiene routine, ensures the senior is ready for the day. At each meal, a focus on proper nutrition provides insight and education for seniors to make healthy food choices.

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Eating breakfast at a set time and taking medicine on a schedule is an important part of overall wellness and medication management strategies. Doing light housework, spending time reading, walking, exercising, or meditating are also possible morning routine elements. This is often a time to complete physical therapy routines and exercises and be more active based on the senior's ability levels.

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The afternoon routine would include lunch at a specific time, followed by social activities or spending time with friends or staff. This interactive part of our companionship care program helps with social interaction and engagement.

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The evening routine would also focus on a set mealtime followed by relaxing activities,social interactions with the family, and time spent on hobbies or favorite activities of the senior. We offer emotional support techniques such as mindfulness and meditation,which are ideal for preparing for a good night's sleep.

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We work closely with the senior and the family to adjust these routines to best suit the needs of our clients. As a collaborative effort, these routines are constantly monitored and adjusted if they are no longer effective or serving the senior.

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Safety and Wellness

Routines focus on creating a safe home environment by continually monitoring medication, assessing physical health, and watching for changes in the senior's emotional level. Adjustments to the routine can be made to increase mindfulness and meditation to help manage depression and help reduce the anxiety that is often associated with Alzheimer's and dementia.

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Adjusting routines for safety and wellness is also critical for seniors in rehab and post-op. Changing routines slowly as the senior recovers helps to prevent injuries during the healing process.

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Our home health care agency staff developed a written plan for helping the seniors. We constantly evaluate the plan based on feedback from the seniors, family members, and our team's observations.

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Daily routines ensure seniors eat meals, take their medications, and engage in daily activities. These routines also help families to support the seniors and plan their time with loved ones.

For more information on the home healthcare services offered by CapitalCity Nurses in McLean, VA, contact us by phone at (866) 807-7307.