Leading UK charity, Alzheimer’s Society, has issued advice for carers on how to support people with dementia who find themselves disorientated by the clocks going back this Sunday.

There are 900,000 people with dementia in the UK and this is projected to rise to 1.6 million people by 2040.

The leading dementia charity said people with dementia can find themselves disorientated by the clock change and may experience ‘sundowning’ by becoming intensely distressed or confused when the days get shorter.

Dr Tim Beanland, head of knowledge and learning at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “For the majority of people, the annual daylight-saving clock change is simply met with a light-hearted shrug and a set reminder to identify all the clocks you own to wind back an hour – don’t forget the clock on the oven! While it can be a minor nuisance for the majority of people, for people living with dementia it can trigger anxiety, confusion and irritability.”

The charity has issued three top tips from Alzheimer’s Society to help people with dementia overcome challenges faced by the clock change:

• Having a routine during the day and at bedtime can help regulate a person’s disrupted body clock. 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
• Going outside in the morning, can help set a person’s body clock too, making them feel sleepier during the evening. If the person is unable to go outside, the same effect can be created by switching on a lamp or lightbox
• Alzheimer’s Society’s online shop sells various ‘Day and Night’ clocks which have all the features of a traditional clock, but also include simple day and night visual symbols to help people with dementia distinguish the time of day. The clock can be purchased here: Day and Night Clock – Alzheimer’s Society Shop (alzheimers.org.uk).

“Too many people face dementia alone. We want everyone affected by dementia to know that whoever you are, whatever you’re going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society for practical advice, emotional support, and guidance for the best next step,” added Dr Beanland.