Caring for patients diagnosed with dementia disease or memory loss poses some care challenges for a loved one or their caregiver.  The treatment options for dementia or cognitive impairment are not a cure, but a caregiver can find many fantastic dementia clocks to help keep their patients calm, focused, reoriented to time, and help improve their daily living.  These clocks make excellent gifts for older adults with all stages of dementia or those suffering from dementia symptoms or memory problems. Caregivers and loved ones can easily incorporate these clocks into the patient’s daily dementia memory care routine.

What is Dementia and what are the Common Symptoms?

Dementia is a term that describes a progressive decline in mental functioning of the brain that is considered severe enough to hinder activities of daily living. Dementia, by itself, is not considered an actual disease. Dementia describes a combination of conditions that must include cognitive impairment of at least two elements of brain function or more. There could be increasing stages of memory loss with accompanying lack of good judgment, among other symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Vascular dementia, which causes impairment to perception, memory, and other thought processes, can be caused by brain damage from decreased blood flow to the brain cells. High blood pressure can also increase the risk of dementia later in life. Dementia can also naturally occur due to age. Dementia is an umbrella term for memory-related problems, so individuals who suffer from various stages of dementia or memory loss could also have Huntington’s disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease.

More common symptoms of dementia include:

  • Increasing memory loss and forgetfulness
  • Loss of judgment, poor decision making
  • Difficulty reasoning
  • Symptoms of language problems
  • A decline of problem-solving skills
  • Signs of memory lapses and cognitive problems
  • Increasing difficulties with motor function and coordination abilities
  • Unable to recognize familiar items, and use their normal name
  • Behavioral change symptoms
  • Increasing confusion especially at night – sundowner’s syndrome
  • Difficulty with speech – can’t seem to find the right words
  • Mood changes, a decrease in levels of alertness and increased stress
  • Agitation, anxiety symptoms
  • Withdrawal, apathy, depression
  • Personality changes
  • Loss of concentration, and losing focus in the environment around them
  • Hallucinations, paranoid behaviors
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Loss of direction, wandering, getting lost in familiar areas
  • Unsteadiness and difficulty with coordinating muscle movements
  • A decrease in normal social interaction
  • Loss of communication skills
  • Trouble completing daily activities, like hygiene, cleaning living spaces, or preparing meals
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Forgetfulness in regards to taking medications or prescription drugs on time.

 

How Exactly Does Dementia Affect Those Who Have It?

The symptoms of memory loss and dementia disease typically progress slowly. Early signs and symptoms of mild cognitive impairment of the brain include short term memory loss leading to long-term memory loss, forgetfulness, minor difficulties in finding the right words, and some mild impairment in regards to reasoning abilities. The person in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can still perform most of their activities of daily living like eating, bathing, and dressing oneself without many issues.

The exact signs and symptoms of memory loss and the speed of the mental decline and cognitive impairment will vary depending on the cause of dementia, how far the disease has progressed and which of the brain’s cognitive functioning abilities are involved. A person with dementia or early-onset Alzheimer’s at this stage of the disease can still communicate but will have some problems with repeating or remembering stories, social activities, and daily tasks. 

Over time, dementia symptoms of cognitive decline or signs of Alzheimer’s disease will worsen and affect the person’s normal routine functions. The patient with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease might begin exhibiting symptoms of more troubling behaviors, and dangerous activities such as driving, cooking, using machinery, or walking down steep stairs might need to be monitored, as they become a risk to others and themselves. As memory function decreases, the cognitive decline and signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease are more pronounced, and quality of life declines. Some symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia and memory loss may include the patient becoming frustrated, confused, angry, sad, or anxious, and communication and language skills becoming more difficult. It becomes harder for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients to perform familiar tasks and necessary care like bathing and dressing to keep themselves in good health.

Eventually, the patient living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease will lose the ability to care for themselves, and walking can begin to be shaky and challenging, and physical activity is limited. The person may want to consider moving to a senior living community or memory care residence at this point, where they can have access to senior care staff or licensed nurses to assist with their care. As dementia disease symptoms progress, the aging patient will need more individualized care and assistance with their daily routines and may need in-home care as their health, cognitive function, and well-being decline. At end stages, dementia or Alzheimer’s patients lose their ability to eat, go to the bathroom and dress and require long-term care or medical assistance. Some with severe dementia become entirely unable to communicate or even turn themselves in bed and may need to be in a long-term care facility and require nursing or hospice care.

As previously mentioned, Huntington’s disease is also a form of dementia disease in some patients and has similar symptoms of cognitive decline as those with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Best Clocks for Dementia Sufferers

Individuals diagnosed with dementia disease need familiar routines, daily structure, and assistance with staying focused and doing easy and everyday tasks. It can be difficult for these dementia or Alzheimer’s disease patients to keep on track as they slowly lose their ability to recognize what time it is and connect with the world around them, due to problems with age-related memory loss.

Many patients with late-stage dementia and memory loss become confused, agitated, and restless near dusk when the daylight fades. This is called “sundowner’s syndrome,” and patients can experience these troubling behaviors and symptoms of forgetfulness even earlier during the winter months.

Utilizing specialized dementia clocks as a form of treatment can help memory loss patients stay focused and improve their health and well-being. These clocks come in a variety of models with different features to strive to help with preventing memory loss and improving any cognitive decline of the brain that has already occurred due to age, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease.

Helpful List of the Best Clocks for Dementia Sufferers

Many valuable clocks are designed to aid dementia disease patients in keeping track of time and are currently being highly recommended for dementia care by senior healthcare professionals. These practical day clocks for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be used to reduce dementia-like symptoms such as anxiety, stress, time confusion, and related abnormal behaviors.

A list of the best dementia clocks available include:

  • Day Clock Tablet for Seniors
  • Digital Clocks
  • Easy-to-read Dementia Clock
  • Day/Night Clocks
  • Day Clock w/ Reminder Assistance
  • Reminder Rosie Voice-Controlled Medication Reminder Alarm Clock
  • Wall Easy-to-Read Clocks with Calendar Dates
  • Desk Large Number Clock

Popular brands of clocks for dementia include:

There are some outstanding day clocks for dementia patients that all senior caregivers working with patients with a diagnosis of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease should consider to improve their patient’s mental health and memory impairment. These clocks are available with various practical features like day/night lights and indicators, large print display, alarm and word reminders, digital clock readout for easier time recognition, and have a daily calendar display to assist dementia or Alzheimer’s caregivers in the continuum of care of their patients.

How Clocks for Dementia Are Being Used in Healthcare to Treat Dementia Related Anxiety

These impressive and ingenious dementia clocks are designed to assist caregivers in resolving frequent bouts of dementia-related anxiety that can occur many times throughout the day or night for patients suffering from memory loss, dementia, or Alzheimer’s disease. These handy healthcare products come in an attractive assortment of various sizes, display readout options, practical bonus features, and convenient voice-activated functions and help with Alzheimer’s and dementia care.

Should I Choose a Digital Clock or Standard Clocks for Dementia Treatment?The decision to choose either a standard clock or a digital model is a personal preference. If the digital display is what the patient with a diagnosis of dementia or memory loss is used to, that might be the best choice. Other memory loss or Alzheimer’s disease patients will recognize a dial-face clock better. You will want to review all of the different styles and their pros and cons before settling on a selection. You can use these clocks in your home to help your loved one, or you can bring them to memory care facilities or senior living communities where your loved one who has dementia is a resident, and the clock can help them there.

A senior caregiver or loved ones have discovered for themselves how specialized clocks for dementia disease sufferers can aid in refocusing confused memory loss patients and reorienting them to the correct time of day. Whether you use a large-display lighted digital clock or prefer one of many versions of state-of-the-art day clocks for dementia and Alzheimer’s disease patients, these simple to implement and affordable dementia care products are revolutionizing how loved ones and professional caregivers are addressing time, date and related patient confusion symptoms and helping their dementia residents live with dignity.

As dementia continues to progress, memory loss patients or those in various stages of Alzheimer’s disease can find themselves lost and confused multiple times during the day or night. Dementia patients should be reminded of the correct time and calendar date, often with clocks, to help lower their anxiety and blood pressure caused by stress and disorientation.