The Impact of Routine Disruptions

I was working on this article when Hurricane Helene came roaring through the south. I don't live where the hurricane came in, but the area I live in is close, and we were warned there may be some weather issues related to the storm. Routine is crucial to our day-to-day well-being. Disruptions, whether from storms or small changes, can really affect our sense of stability.

Everyone gets anxious when we get notice of a weather related incident. Those of us with Alzheimer's get extremely anxious. Since routine is so important to us. The fact that our routine might get interrupted due to a storm is disconcerting. We have to be flexible and adjust to changing circumstances - that is difficult for us.

We just can't pivot sometimes when we need to. Those taking care of us can be distracted with preparations for a storm, and we feel out of touch. The "not knowing" aspect has all of us concerned during these times.

Why routine is crucial for us

We were fortunate to not have taken the brunt of the storm in our area. We lost power for 36 hours, and adjusting was hard for me. I was feeling anxious and disoriented. I couldn't fix it. I wanted it to be "normal" again.

My routine was affected, as was everyone else's, but that is hard to see when you are in the midst of things. I started to worry about all of those people whose routines would be affected for much longer because of the devastation of that storm. I am hoping there will be adequate help for those who need it.

Small changes, big loss

While that situation was horrible, I want to give you an example of something minor that can similarly affect us. I broke my coffee cup. For over 10 years, I have been using the same coffee cup every morning for my coffee - it's like my little security blanket.

A couple of weeks ago, I accidentally knocked it off a table, and it shattered. I was devastated. It's silly to be devastated by the loss of a coffee cup, but when you have Alzheimer's disease, the little things catch you up.

Supporting a loved one with Alzheimer's through changes

Routine is so important to us, and a coffee cup was part of my routine. If you are reading this, you are probably thinking, "It's only a coffee cup." And you are right. But that is what I am familiar with, and by using another cup, it feels like I am cheating. No one messes with me and my coffee in the morning, and I, like my cup, was shattered when this happened.

Caregivers often do not realize how much these little things mean to us. While it is a little thing, it is a big thing to us. Remember that when trying to change something for your loved one, no matter how small it is.

Consider this example if you are looking to make changes in a living situation, or something as simple as rearranging furniture or painting the walls a different color. It might not affect you – but it could very possibly affect your loved one dealing with Alzheimer's. It is probably something you would not give a second thought to – but think again when making any changes.