Organizing the Bedroom for Alzheimer's Independence

Creating a structured, familiar environment can help your loved one with Alzheimer’s navigate their day confidently. A well-organized space promotes independence, allowing them to rely on habits and routines, which often remain intact longer in Alzheimer’s early to middle stages. Here’s how we set up our mom’s bedroom to support her independence.

Why It Matters: Leveraging Procedural Memory

Procedural memory, which governs habits and routines, is typically preserved longer in Alzheimer’s. Simplifying and decluttering the bedroom engages this memory system, helping your loved one perform daily tasks without confusion.

How We Organized Mom’s Bedroom

Closet

Seasonal Only: We keep only seasonally appropriate clothes in the closet. This way, whatever our mom chooses is suitable. We guide her to layering with a cardigan or choosing sneakers over sandals during transitional weather.
3-Shelf Hanging Closet Organizer: In year five, we added a hanging organizer to make items more accessible. Our mom stores her jeans on the lower shelves and her belts on the top shelf.
Added Signage: In year seven, we added a labeled sign to the closet door to make it easier to find.

Drawers

Organized by Purpose: Each drawer has a specific role—one for pajamas, one for undergarments, etc. We use these organizers to keep items visible and accessible.
Labels: As the disease progressed, we labeled each drawer. This simple change made it easier for our mom to pick clothes for different routines, like showering or bedtime.

Tray (Command Center)

We created a designated tray for essentials:
- Medication Items: All medications are stored in a tray.
- Daily Checklist: Our MMS Plus checklist sits on a clipboard with a pen for easy updates.
- Other Small Essentials: Items like nail clippers, remote controls, and pens are organized in small containers.

Nightstand

To reduce clutter, it holds only a lamp and a water cup to keep her hydrated.

Clock

The Robin Clock displays the time, day of the week, and date and helps maintain her sense of control and orientation.

Practical Tips for Caregivers

Collaborate: Involve your loved one in setting up their space, fostering a sense of ownership.
Simplify Choices: Instead of open-ended questions, offer two options (“Do you want the clock on the nightstand or hanging on the wall?”). Add a third option if needed.
Be Flexible: Check in regularly to see if the system works and adjust as their needs evolve.
Start Small: Even minor tweaks can make a big difference over time.

Creating a supportive bedroom is a small but powerful step toward helping your loved one remain independent and confident. You’ll both navigate this journey more easily with thoughtful adjustments and patience.