Best clocks for loved one’s living with Dementia

What is Dementia?

The NHS has defined dementia as a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. There are many different causes of dementia, and many different types.

Dementia symptoms may include problems with:

• memory loss
• thinking speed
• mental sharpness and quickness
• language, such as using words incorrectly, or having trouble speaking
• understanding
• judgement
• mood
• movement
• difficulties doing daily activities

Why is the correct clock important?

A dementia user-friendly clock can help your loved one keep track of dates and times and help to ease confusion. In addition, clocks can help nurses and carers by reinforcing to your loved one suffering from dementia that it is the time the nurses and carers say it is.

The best clocks for loved ones living with Dementia

1. Calendar clocks

Calendar clocks prominently display the month, day, date and time. Some also add the year, which can be helpful when a loved one gets lost in the past. Furthermore, more elaborate calendar-clocks may add weather and other information. Though this provides an extra connection to the outside world, too much information can be more confusing than helpful.

It may be important to keep in mind that digital clocks became common in the 1970s. People born before then will sometimes be more comfortable with a traditional “analog” clock, with two hands and 12 numbers.

2. Day clocks

There are a variety of “Day Clocks” available which emphasize the day of the week. Some display the day of the week, while others also tell you whether it is morning, afternoon, evening or night, and still more combine the day of the week with the time of day. However, keep in mind to check the size of the display. A large-number display is easy to read from a distance. Having the month spelled out in letters instead of numbers can be an important advantage to many people. Bold, high-contrast letters and numbers can make a difference to the eye.

3. Digital display clocks

Simple, yet effective, digital clocks display the day of the week and the time of day. Some digital display clocks also have alarms that can be set to serve as reminders. For example, medication reminders.

4. Cambrian Day of the Week Clock

The Cambrian day of the week clock is a very simple to understand wall clock. It does not tell you the time of the day. If an individual has later stages of dementia then they will find this clock helpful. It allows the day of the week to be easily read by the user.

The Cambrian day clock is silent & has a large 9-inch clock face with one large pointing hand. It is designed to hang on a wall.

How can Cavendish Homecare help?

At Cavendish Homecare we can help support you and your loved ones with our expertise in delivering dementia homecare and other services. We know that being diagnosed with dementia can have a huge emotional, social, and psychological effect on both the person living with dementia and their family. Therefore we ensure specialist care in the comfort of one’s own home.

Please call our Homecare team on 0203 008 5210 or email us info@cavendishhomecare.com to see how we can assist you.