4 ways to support someone with dementia when the clocks change

Changing the clocks can be confusing for all of us – but for someone living with dementia it can be particularly disorientating and even distressing. These tips from The Alzheimer's Society will help minimise any disruption.

As our days get longer and brighter, people living with dementia may find it harder to differentiate between 6am and 6pm. This disrupts their natural circadian rhythm and makes it hard for them, and those who care for them, to ensure they get enough sleep.


🌙 Consider having dinner and going to bed an hour earlier on Saturday. This means the person you’re caring for can still get enough sleep and can wake up at their usual time on Sunday, and that their routine will only be different for an evening rather than the whole day.

📆 Keep to a regular routine during the day and at bedtime. This can help to regulate a disrupted body clock. Doing regular activities at the same time each day – for example, going for a walk after breakfast – can help a person with dementia make sense of the time.

🚶‍♀️ Gentle exercise during the day can help the person feel sleepier during the evening, meaning they’ll go to bed at their usual time. If this isn’t an option, keeping them active during the day can have a similar effect. You could also consider using blackout curtains to reduce sunlight in the evenings.

⏰ Invest in an auto-setting clock. Some people with dementia can find it tricky to read a clock face, so often digital clocks are easier. You can also get clocks that show the day of the week and date as well as the time, and for some people a day/night clock can help them distinguish what time of day it is.