Daylight Savings Time might seem like a minor inconvenience to most of us, but for older adults—especially those living with dementia—time changes can create challenges that ripple through their daily lives in unexpected ways. If you’re caring for an aging loved one, understanding these impacts and knowing how to ease the transition can make all the difference.
Let’s explore what happens when the clocks change and, more importantly, what you can do to help your loved one navigate this shift with greater comfort and ease.
Why the Time Change Hits Harder as We Age
We’ve all felt a bit “off” for a day or two after the clocks change, but older adults often experience more pronounced effects that can last well beyond that initial adjustment period.
Sleep becomes more elusive. Many older adults already experience fragmented sleep, and even a one-hour shift can take several days—sometimes over a week—to fully adjust to. This leads to daytime fatigue, grogginess, and that general feeling of being out of sync with the world.
Medication schedules get more complex. When you’re taking multiple medications on strict schedules, that one-hour shift can create real confusion. Blood pressure medications, diabetes management, and other time-sensitive treatments all need careful attention during the transition.
Safety concerns with darker evenings. The fall time change brings earlier darkness, which can increase fall risk during evening walks or errands. Reduced visibility combined with potential balance issues creates a genuine safety concern that deserves our attention.
Mood and thinking may temporarily shift. The disruption to routine and sleep can affect mood, memory, and concentration—effects that tend to be more pronounced in older adults, particularly those already experiencing cognitive changes.
Ways Caregivers Can Help Older Adults Adjust to Daylight Savings Time
The good news? With a little preparation and attention, you can significantly ease this transition for your loved one. Here’s how:
Before the Clocks Change
Start early. Begin adjusting bedtime and wake time gradually—about 15 minutes earlier (or later) each day for 3-4 days before the official change. Think of it as acclimating to a new time zone, but doing it slowly enough that the body barely notices.
Create visual clarity. Set up a simple reminder system with updated clocks and medication schedules. For those with memory concerns, seeing the new times clearly displayed can prevent confusion and anxiety.
Managing Sleep and Daily Rhythms
Keep meals consistent. Eating schedules are powerful anchors for our internal clocks. Maintain breakfast, lunch, and dinner at regular intervals, even as sleep times begin to shift.
Embrace the morning sun. This is one of your most powerful tools. Open those curtains, take a morning walk, or simply sit by a sunny window. Natural light tells the body it’s time to be awake and alert, helping reset circadian rhythms naturally.
Adjust evening habits. Limit caffeine after noon and reduce screen time in the evening. These small changes support better sleep quality during the adjustment period, when quality rest matters most.
Medication and Health Monitoring
Review schedules together. Sit down and update medication schedules and any written reminders to reflect the new times. For critical medications like insulin or blood pressure pills, a quick call to their healthcare provider can clarify whether timing adjustments are needed.
Stay observant. Watch for signs of increased fatigue, confusion, or mood changes in the days following the change. Don’t hesitate to reach out to their doctor if something feels off—your instincts matter.
Safety First
Update the home systems. Adjust automatic lighting timers, thermostats, and medical alert devices to the new time. These behind-the-scenes changes prevent confusion and keep safety systems working as they should.
Be extra attentive in the evening. After the fall time change, when darkness arrives earlier, consider adding motion-sensor lighting or accompanying them on evening activities until they’ve fully adjusted.
Emotional Support Matters
Practice patience. Acknowledge that this adjustment can be genuinely difficult and frustrating. Some older adults may feel more irritable or anxious during this transition, and a little extra compassion truly goes a long way.
Keep things calm. If possible, keep the week after the time change relatively low-key. Avoid scheduling demanding appointments or activities during those first few days when they’re still finding their footing.
Daylight Savings Time Tips for Caregivers of People Living with Dementia
For individuals living with dementia, daylight saving time isn’t just an adjustment—it can feel like the ground shifting beneath their feet. Understanding why this happens can help you provide the supportive, steady presence they need.
People living with dementia rely heavily on routine and external cues to navigate their day. Their internal sense of time is often already compromised, so they depend on predictable patterns—meals at the same time, sunlight at familiar moments, consistent daily rhythms—to maintain orientation and reduce anxiety.
When daylight saving time disrupts these anchors, it can trigger what many caregivers describe as a domino effect of confusion and distress. It’s not stubbornness or difficulty—it’s that their primary tools for understanding the day have suddenly shifted.
What to Watch For
Increased sundowning is often the most significant concern. That late-afternoon agitation and confusion can worsen dramatically when the time change shifts when darkness falls. The fall time change is particularly challenging because darkness arrives earlier, potentially triggering sundowning behaviors an hour sooner than usual.
Sleep disturbances often intensify. Many people with dementia already struggle with sleep-wake cycles, and the time change can lead to increased nighttime waking, early morning rising, or difficulty falling asleep.
Confusion about daily activities becomes more pronounced. Your loved one might insist it’s lunchtime when the clock says 11am, or become distressed that their afternoon program isn’t on television at the “right” time. These mismatches can cause genuine distress.
Behavioral changes may emerge—increased irritability, anxiety, repetitive questions, resistance to care, or withdrawal. They may not be able to articulate that the time change is bothering them, but their behavior often reflects their discomfort.
Preparation Strategies That Work
Go even more gradually. Consider shifting routines by just 10 minutes every other day for a week before the time change. Serve breakfast at 7:50 instead of 8:00, then 7:40 two days later. Small steps make the transition almost imperceptible.
Don’t change all the clocks at once. This might sound counterintuitive, but for someone with dementia who checks clocks frequently, leaving some unchanged initially can reduce confusion. Focus on maintaining the actual routine rather than explaining why the numbers have changed.
Create a visual schedule. Use pictures showing daily activities. This provides a concrete reference point that doesn’t rely on clock time and can help them feel more grounded.
During the Transition Period
Prioritize routine over clock time. If your loved one always eats breakfast when they wake up, don’t make them wait an hour because the clock says it’s “too early.” Follow their internal cues and gradually guide the routine to the new time over several days.
Maximize light exposure. Open all curtains in the morning, encourage outdoor time, and use bright indoor lighting during the day. Light therapy lamps can be particularly helpful for those who can’t easily go outside.
Manage evening lighting carefully. Since darkness comes earlier in the fall, create a gradual transition to evening rather than sudden darkness. Use lamps and softer lighting to ease into nighttime.
Skip the explanations. Trying to explain that “we moved the clocks back” will likely create more confusion than clarity. Simply maintain the routine as consistently as possible without explanation.
Managing Increased Sundowning
Start prevention strategies earlier. For the first week or two after the fall time change, begin calming activities an hour earlier than usual. If agitation typically starts around 5pm, start your calming routine at 4pm instead.
Create a “golden hour” routine. Late afternoon can be the most challenging time. Establish calm, enjoyable activities that happen consistently—listening to favorite music, looking at photo albums, folding towels, or sharing a snack together. The predictability provides an anchor.
Minimize evening stimulation. Keep the television off or at low volume, reduce the number of people present, and avoid scheduling appointments or activities late in the day during the adjustment period.
Sleep Support
Keep bedtime routines sacred. Maintain them exactly as they were, even if the clock shows a different time. The sequence of activities—changing clothes, washing face, having a small snack—provides comfort and signals that sleep is coming.
Resist the urge to sleep in. If early waking becomes a problem after the spring time change, get them up at their new wake time anyway. Increase daytime activity to build sleep pressure for the following night.
Light the way safely. Consider a nightlight or motion-sensor lighting for bathroom trips. Disorientation is often worse when waking during the adjustment period.
Communication That Comforts
Validate feelings without explaining. If they say “Something feels wrong,” respond with empathy: “I know things feel different. We’re going to have lunch soon, just like we always do.”
Emphasize continuity. Use reassuring phrases like “We’re doing the same things we always do” or “I’m right here with you.”
Watch for nonverbal cues. Pacing, hand-wringing, facial expressions—they may not be able to articulate their discomfort, but their body language often tells the story.
Practical Adjustments
Follow hunger cues initially. If they’re hungry at 11am when it used to be noon, feed them. Don’t make them wait because the clock says otherwise. You can gradually shift meal times over the next few days.
Build in medication flexibility. Consult with their healthcare provider about whether time-sensitive medications can be given based on their actual wake/sleep times during the adjustment period.
Keep the calendar simple. Minimize activities and appointments during the first week after the change. Cancel non-essential outings and keep the schedule as predictable as possible.
A Note to Caregivers: Take Care of Yourself Too
Here’s something important that often gets overlooked: your sleep and routine are also disrupted. The combination of the time change and managing increased behavioral symptoms can be genuinely exhausting.
This is not the time to tough it out alone. Accept help when it’s offered, even if just for an hour so you can rest. Reach out to support groups or other caregivers who understand these challenges. Sometimes, just knowing you’re not alone in finding this time difficult provides real comfort.
Remember that this adjustment period will pass. Routines will settle again. Be patient with your loved one and with yourself as you navigate this together.
