5 useful clocks for people with dementia
If you or a loved one is living with dementia, you may have experienced firsthand the difficulties brought on by memory loss. This memory loss makes it difficult for many people living with dementia to read an analog clock as they once did or to accurately keep track of the time.
Losing track of time is not only frustrating, but it can also lead to problems like missed doctor’s appointments and medication mismanagement. Thankfully, dementia clocks offer a simple and affordable solution for anyone struggling to tell the time.
In this informative guide, we’ll discuss 5 of the most useful clocks for people with dementia and the benefits they bring.
If you or your loved one are facing increasing memory loss due to dementia, you do not have to cope alone. At The Good Care Group, we have more than 10 years of experience helping families and their loved ones receive the quality dementia care they need right in their own homes.
Do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your dementia care needs. We’re here to help you make sense of your options.
Why people with dementia struggle to tell time
Memory loss and losing track of time are common symptoms of dementia. As the brain becomes damaged by dementia, a person can lose the analytical and reasoning abilities needed to tell time. Dementia can also throw the body’s natural circadian rhythm off-kilter leading to difficulties telling the difference between day and night.
This difficulty in keeping track of time can be distressing and confusing for people with dementia. When a person with dementia looks at a clock’s face they may be unable to read it, causing them to lose sense of what part of the day it is or even what month, year, or season it is. This can lead to a number of practical problems from forgetting about important appointments to missing meals.
How dementia clocks can help
If you or a loved one are struggling to keep track of time, a dementia clock offers a simple and practical solution.
Dementia clocks are clocks designed for people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or any kind of memory loss. They include a number of user-friendly features designed to make telling time easier such as having large, easy-to-read faces, bold fonts, and large numbers. Many dementia clocks even talk or provide verbal notifications.
A dementia clock can help anyone who struggles with memory loss stay grounded, particularly if they become anxious or confused when they do not know the time or date. They also help caregivers establish a daily routine, which may ease some of the distress and anxiety that so often accompanies memory loss.
The following dementia products were designed specifically to help individuals living with dementia or memory loss stay on top of the time.
5 useful clocks for people with dementia
1. Day clocks
A dementia day clock is a clock designed to help individuals differentiate between morning, noon and night. Most models do not tell the actual time, they instead display the time of day in a big and easy-to-read font. They can be especially useful for people that wake up confused during the night as to what time of the day it is.
2. Talking clocks
Talking clocks allow people to find out the time of day through verbal communication. By pressing a button or through voice recognition technology, the user can hear the current time spoken out loud. Many models can be set to automatically announce the time at certain hours of the day.
3. Wall clocks
A dementia wall clock is a neat and uncomplicated clock designed to be mounted on a wall. They often include bright colours and bold fonts to help them stand out in their environment. On top of displaying the time, many include the day of the week, the month, and whether it is night or day.
4. Digital alarm clocks
Standard alarm clocks can be confusing due to their small buttons and hard-to-see print. A digital alarm clock looks like a standard alarm clock but they include special, user-friendly features to help people living with dementia. A dementia digital alarm clock will often use a large LED display to clearly show the time, day, and date. Most dementia alarm clocks also feature large and clearly labelled buttons.
5. Talking watches
Talking or speaking watches are also available for anyone having difficulty telling time. Dementia watches have large LED displays which clearly show the time in large numbers. They will often state the time or date in a loud voice at the touch of a button. They may also include other features such as GPS tracking to help people with dementia that are prone to wandering stay safe.
Whichever model you choose, be mindful of any battery-operated dementia clock. If the batteries run out, your loved one may lose track of time or miss out on important notifications like reminders to take medication.
Where can I purchase dementia clocks?
There are many reputable websites within the UK that can supply you with dementia clocks and other memory aid products.
AlzProduct.co.uk has over 12 years of experience in supplying dementia memory aids and products to both care homes and the general public. They have a wide variety of dementia clocks including digital alarm clocks, calendar clocks, and wall clocks.
The Alzheimer’s Society also offers a wide range of dementia memory aids such as dementia clocks and 100% of their profits go towards helping the fight against dementia. On top of dementia alarms and wall clocks, they also offer talking watches.
How live-in care can help
If you have a loved one that is struggling with memory loss or other symptoms caused by dementia, it may be time to consider live-in care. Live-in care from a professional and compassionate carer will allow your loved ones to receive the quality dementia care they need while being able to stay in the comfort and familiarity of their own home.
At The Good Care Group, we’ve been innovating dementia care for over 10 years. Our qualified carers are trained beyond the industry standard in how to care for people living with dementia. From providing discreet, personal care like bathing and toileting to ensuring mobility around the home and managing and administering medications, our dementia care can enhance the quality of life for your loved one while improving their health outcomes.
Our blended, one-to-one approach to dementia care, led and supported by our own Consultant Admiral Nurse, allows us to provide unrivalled practical and emotional care to people living with dementia.
Each of our professional carers is trained in the SPECAL method which allows them to communicate efficiently and reduce anxiety even during moments of confusion or memory loss.
We adopt a multidisciplinary approach to care and collaborate closely with healthcare professionals, academic bodies, and leading dementia charities. The quality of our dementia care is reflected in the fact that we are the only dedicated live-in care provider to receive ‘Outstanding’ ratings across the board from the Care Quality Commission.
At the heart of our award-winning dementia care services is a desire to help individuals living with dementia to continue thriving in their much-loved homes. Do not hesitate to call our friendly team to discuss how we can help you and your family.
Talk to us about your care needs
To talk about your care needs, contact one of our friendly advisors. Calls from landlines are free.