23/10/2025
Don't forget that the clocks go back this weekend. Here's how you can support a loved one living with dementia to adjust to the change
Reminder! The clocks go back this weekend ⏰
Changing the clocks can be confusing for all of us – but for someone living with dementia it can be particularly disorientating and even distressing.
Thankfully there are a few easy things we can do to help minimise any disruption.
Consider having dinner and going to bed an hour earlier on Saturday, so that the person you’re caring for still gets enough sleep and can wake up at their usual time on Sunday.
Keep to a regular routine during the day and at bedtime. 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 outdoors can help the person feel sleepier during the evening. If this isn’t an option, keeping them active during the day can have a similar effect.
Use blackout curtains to reduce sunlight in the evening to help with body clock regulation.
Invest in an auto-setting clock for them. Reading a clock face can be tricky for some people with dementia, 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.
