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Why Daylight Savings Time May Negatively Affect Seniors with Dementia

On Sunday, November 3, daylight savings time will end and we’ll “gain back” an hour. Most of us are looking forward to it (because who doesn’t love an extra hour of sleep?), but for caretakers of seniors with dementia, the time change can be more of a nuisance than a nicety.

“Falling back with the clock can actually increase the risk of depression and irritability in people.” says Alicia Seaver, Vice President of Memory Care Operations at Bridges® by EPOCH at Hingham. “For seniors with dementia, the effects can become much more pronounced and cause disruption, frustration and difficulty for both caregivers and their loved ones. Sundowning symptoms often become more pronounced in the days following daylight savings time, and confusion can increase as well.”

Losing or gaining an hour – although it seems like such a slight change – can greatly affect our circadian rhythm (our internal body clock that is attuned to light and dark, giving us cues as to when it’s time to get up or go to bed). These changes affect the brain chemicals that are produced during the day, which ends up affecting mood, behavior and well-being.

While most of us can shake this off with an extra cup of coffee or a quick nap during the day, people with dementia find that daylight savings time disrupts their consistent routine, which makes things doubly frustrating because, often, they have trouble understanding what’s happening.

“As you know, explaining things logically doesn’t always work with your loved one with dementia,” says Alicia. “Their disease affects their understanding so that they can’t always comprehend why it’s suddenly dark at dinnertime, or why they’re so tired before bedtime. Since one in 5 people with dementia suffer from sundowning syndrome, this results in a lot of confusion that a caregiver has to manage.”

Danish study found that depression increased nearly 11% after setting the clocks back an hour, and it’s also been proven that the time change can trigger bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder and other forms of mental illness. Although the effects will decrease and go away after approximately 10 weeks, that’s a long time to wait it out.

Plus, changes in our circadian rhythm can cause our bodies to go haywire. Our eating and sleeping patterns change. There are also studies showing that it can cause cardiovascular issues down the road.

“The best way to manage the transition is to get ahead of it and take steps to ease the change for you and your loved one,” says Alicia.

Tips for Managing This Fall’s Time Change

Plan ahead. 10 days or a week before the time change, start slowly changing your loved one’s routine to reflect what will happen once we set the clocks back. If dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., for example, bump it out in 15-minute increments until you eventually are serving at 6:30 p.m. Do the same for bedtime routines. By slowly making the changes, your loved one will be better able to adjust their internal clock without too much trouble.

Stick to your regular routine. Try to not do anything out of the ordinary in the week leading up to and after the time change. Keeping your routine comfortable and familiar will provide a sense of stability for your loved one so they don’t have to deal with schedule disruption as well as time disruption. (This goes for you, too – be kind to yourself and don’t try to take on too much).

Avoid things that will disrupt sleep at night. Limit the use of alcohol, caffeine and sugar around the time change because this will make it even harder to stick to a routine. Although it may be tempting to take a nap to help shake off side effects of the time change, try to avoid taking them or keep them to less than 30 minutes.

Go outside. Natural sunlight is the best way to help regulate circadian rhythms, so spend time outdoors, whether that’s doing yardwork, taking a walk or simply sitting on the porch, drinking hot apple cider. Fresh air has many great benefits for our health, and pairing sunlight with some exercise will help you and your loved one sleep better at night.

Increase the amount of light in the house. Shadows and low light can be confusing and scary for people with dementia. Since the time change means a lot less light in the evenings, be sure that you have enough indoor light to help chase away the shadows and make your loved one feel more secure. During the day, throw open the blinds so you can get as much natural light as possible for the time that the sun is out. You may wish to invest in some extra floor lamps or night lights to provide an extra sense of security.

Take it easy. Try not to overplan things in the evening. For the first week or so, keep any activities low-key, since both you and your loved one will probably be more tired until you adjust properly to the time change. Do puzzles, watch movies or read together – all great activities that keep the brain stimulated without being tiring. Playing favorite music can be another great way to keep your loved one calm and content.

Use redirection. Redirecting your loved one’s attention is one of the best tools in your caregiver toolbox. If your loved one is becoming agitated, anxious or exhibiting other unwanted behavior, have a handful of ways to distract them to redirect their focus and help them reach a place of comfort and calm.

“Even though falling back with the clock can be disruptive, there’s no reason why it has to be a huge ordeal,” says Alicia. “Planning ahead, being aware of the changes that need to take place in your home and remaining calm and positive will do wonders to help your loved one with dementia adapt to the change. Best of all, planning ahead will help you adjust quicker as well, meaning that both you and your loved one can get past this quickly and enjoy all the wonderful things that fall has to offer.”

Exceptional Care. Fulfilling Lifestyle.

Bridges® by EPOCH at Hingham provides assisted living and memory care that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia or memory impairment, we’ve created a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity and individual preferences. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment – making a truly positive impact on the lives of our residents each and every day.

Dedicated Memory Care

No matter what level of care or service is needed, residents and families can rest assured that our programs address the various stages of memory decline, allowing residents the opportunity to age in place.

Personalized Services

At Bridges® by EPOCH at Hingham, our services are designed to recognize and adapt to the unique challenges and individuality of each resident, while ensuring comfort and safety. We believe in a full-service approach to care and provide a high level of personalized attention for every resident through all stages of memory loss.

Contact us today to learn more.

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