One early sign of Alzheimer’s disease is losing track of dates and time. As the disease progresses it becomes more difficult for those impacted to tell time and distinguish between night and day.
The following clocks may help ease some confusion and are specifically designed for people with cognitive impairments and their caregivers trying to stick to a routine. They may also help with the anxiety that accompanies a dementia diagnosis. Learn more.
Losing Track of Time: An Early Symptom of Alzheimer’s
Some early signs of Alzheimer’s are easy to dismiss as normal signs of aging. Common signs that are overlooked include repeating the same stories, trouble completing familiar tasks and losing track of dates, seasons and time. Even people in early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s often lose track of dates, seasons and the time of day.
As dementia progresses, people need routine and structure to ease the anxiety and confusion that the disease brings. A dementia user friendly clock can help those impacted keep track of dates and times and help to ease confusion. In addition, clocks can help caregivers by reinforcing to the affected individual that it is the time the caregiver says it is.
The following clocks are designed specifically to help people with dementia maintain routines while also easing anxiety and confusion.
Clocks to Help People with Dementia Tell Time
1. Day Clock: This clock features a simple and clear design that shows the time of day as morning, afternoon, evening or night. The clock does not give the actual time but can help seniors who have lost track of their day/night cycle. This clock costs around $119 and although not cheap, it has great reviews and testimonies.
2. DayClox: DayClox is a digital clock specifically designed to help those experiencing memory loss. This clock displays the date, the time and the day of the week. It can be set to either a 12 or 24 hour display and has a choice of eight languages. It can also adjust brightness based on the time of day. This clock is priced at $100.
3. Alzheimer’s Dementia Day Clock: This clock is actually an app available through Google. The clock can be used as a screensaver and is visible at all times. It does not display actual time, but instead, day of the week, and will let the viewer know if it is morning, afternoon, evening or night. This app is available for $0.99.
4. Day/Night Clock: This analog clock has a night, morning, day and afternoon window which helps them understand the exact time of day. The exact words “night,” “morning,” “day” and “afternoon” are displayed in bold on a colored background and slowly transition into the next time of day. It is about 12 inches in diameter so that the individual can see the hands on the clock easier and it costs about $80.
5. Thousand Clock Widgets: This app allows you to use thousands of clock designs. Because there are so many options to pick from and the user can even design their own, this is a great option for caregivers who need a very specific setting on the clock.
6. Magnifying Aids Large Number Wall Clock/Calendar: This clock is one of the more comprehensive clocks on the market, featuring a digital clock, an analog clock, the day of the week with a.m. or p.m. and the year. All text is oversized. This clock is available on Amazon for $139.
How do you help manage the anxiety and confusion that comes with losing track of time? Do you have a clock or calendar that has helped you or a loved one? Share your story in the comments below.
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