The Role of Structured Daily Routines in Managing Chronic Illness

Are you looking for ways to help a senior manage chronic illness?

Daily routines might be one of the easiest tools you can use to keep them healthier longer.

After all…

Daily routines form the basis of good health in elderly adults. They provide the framework seniors need to keep everything from their medications straight to making sure they’re getting proper exercise each day.

Don’t have strong daily routines in place?

Everything else falls apart.

And…

Daily routines for seniors:

• Cost nothing
• Are easy to build
• …Can improve chronic illness management FAST

What you’re going to learn:

1. Why Daily Routines are Important when living with Chronic Illness
2. How Daily Routines Improve Chronic Illness Management
3. How to Build a Daily Routine For Seniors
4. How to Maintain Daily Routines with Seniors Long-Term

Why Daily Routines Are Important when living with Chronic Illness

Chronic illness doesn’t just happen. In most cases seniors are living with chronic illness because they’ve developed 1 or more over time.

Roughly 93% of adults over age 65 have some form of chronic condition and 79% have two or more conditions.

That’s a lot of illness to manage.

Diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, COPD. They all require daily effort to keep them from getting worse. Daily medications need to be taken. Exercise needs to be done. Proper meals need to be eaten.

But if something as simple as healthy meals are skipped because a loved one doesn’t feel up to cooking… Everything starts to come undone.

If senior care isn’t handled properly chronic illness tends to take over seniors’ lives pretty quickly. That’s why routines are so important.

When living at home it can be difficult to manage daily routines with chronic illness. That’s why many seniors benefit from moving to a quality elder care residential community.

Look at communities like Assisted Living in Boca Raton that build strong daily routines into their residents’ lives. When professional caregivers help manage a senior’s daily routine it’s easier to keep everything on track.

Daily routines create a foundation that seniors with chronic illness can build upon to live stronger healthier lives.

Let’s take a look at some research that shows just how important routines are…

How Daily Routines Improve Chronic Illness Management

One study showed that when seniors adhered to a routine daily schedule their feelings of fatigue were greatly reduced.

That’s just one study.

Here are three ways routines can improve chronic illness management:

Improve Medication Adherence

This should be at the TOP of the list. When seniors follow a strict daily routine that reminds them to take their medication… They’re far more likely to take it as prescribed.

No more guessing.

“When should this pill be taken?” becomes “It’s time for medication.” because that’s what the routine dictates.

Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Trying to manage chronic illness is stressful.

Not knowing what will happen tomorrow can cause a lot of anxiety for seniors which can lead to depression as they get older.

Enter routines.

When seniors have a set schedule and routine to follow they know what will happen each day. There are less unknowns. Which means less anxiety.

Daily routines have also been shown to help prevent falls in older adults. According to Healthy People 2030, 1 in 4 older adults fall each year and falls are a leading cause of injury for seniors.

Fall injuries can often cause seniors to become housebound. By sticking to a routine that includes daily physical activity seniors can prevent chronic disease progression as well as fall-related injuries.

Help Manage Physical Health

Easier management of chronic illness = better physical health.

When seniors take their medications regularly, stay active, and eat proper meals at the same time each day chronic illness actually starts to stabilize.

Blood sugar levels stay more consistent. Heart health improves. And better sleep leads to faster recovery.

All because a senior has a simple daily routine to follow.

How to Build a Daily Routine For Seniors

Great! Routines are important… But how do you build one?

Here’s how to build a daily routine that a loved one will actually follow.

First Thing’s First: The Basics

Any routine should be built around the absolute necessities first.

When building a routine for a senior think about what they NEED to do each day to properly manage their chronic illness.

For most seniors this includes:

• Taking medications
• Eating healthy meals
• Staying physically active
• Getting plenty of rest

Everything else is secondary.

Fill In the Rest

Now that the basics are down it’s time to expand.

Think about what a loved one enjoys doing on a daily basis and build that into their routine as well. Do they love to read? Schedule in quiet time with a book each day.

Do they like to play cards? Set aside time each day/week for card games.

Things like this help seniors look forward to sticking with their daily routine.

How to Maintain Daily Routines with Seniors Long-Term

Building a daily routine is half the battle. Doing what it takes to maintain that routine is where a lot of people run into problems.

So how do senior care routines become a permanent fixture in a loved one’s life?

• Print out their daily schedule and keep it on the fridge. Simple reminders like this help a lot.
• Ask for help from their caregiver or care team. Family members, outside caregivers, and care teams at residential communities can help remind seniors what they need to do each day.
• Celebrate the small victories. Sticking to a routine is an accomplishment. Don’t be afraid to celebrate when a senior does a good job.
• Have their schedule reviewed by their care team regularly. As a loved one ages their health needs will change. By keeping their caregiver or care team in the loop adjustments to daily routines can be made when necessary.

Let’s Overview

Daily routines play a MASSIVE role in keeping seniors healthy when living with chronic illness. They form a strong foundation that a loved one can build upon to stay healthy and strong.

Having a solid routine in place will help seniors:

• Take their medications consistently
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Manage their physical condition better

Remember…

It’s hard to manage chronic illness alone. That’s why building a daily routine for a senior loved one can really change everything.

Whether they’re living at home or in an elder care residential community, helping a senior develop and follow a daily routine is something that can keep them fighting strong against chronic illness.