Maintaining Routine for the Disabled

Routine is very important for individuals and often difficult to maintain. Some people come by routine naturally. They might come from routine managed backgrounds at home, in the military or on the job. Major life crisis like a disability can disrupt routine and change our propensity to maintain what was once an easy regimen.

Change happens whether it be life circumstance or internal motivation brought about by depression or trauma. As the saying goes, if you fall off the horse you have to get right back on. What if you cannot get back on that same horse? Then you must re-evaluate your circumstances and press on with what you have.

Disabled persons or their caregivers face ever-changing circumstances from one day to the next, sometimes from one hour or one minute to the next none-the-less, routine is even more important for disabled persons than it is for the rest of the populace in general.

The following are some tips for maintaining routine-even as circumstances change the routine that a disabled person can follow from day to day.

1. Whenever a change occurs in your ability it is time to re-evaluate and create a new routine based on those changes.

2. Know that you will not be able to maintain your entire routine everyday, but try to maintain as much as possible without compromising your health.

3. Make a list of things you should be accomplishing everyday in order of importance. Try to maintain that order. Such as each day, sponge bath at 8:00am.

4. Try to go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning.

5. If possible, try to eat healthy foods or supplements at the same time each day, take your medicines at the same time each day.

6. Set a clock, or calendar on your computer to go off signaling specific times for these activities. This can be of great help in maintaining order in your life.

7. Understand that you may not be able to do everything on your list everyday- be kind to yourself and re-start your routine as quickly as possible.

8. Ask for help in staying on task. This help could come from a family member, a social worker, therapist, caregiver or friend. The point is to have someone help you keep track of your progress in maintaining your routine.

9. Reward yourself, for maintaining your routine despite setbacks, at certain intervals. This applies to the caregiver as well, reward yourself and your loved one, friend, or ward if you have managed to help them keep a sense of routine.

10. Keep track of appointments with doctors and try to set the same intervals for routine visits, such as every two weeks, on Thursday at 4:00pm. Ask for reminder calls the day before.