Daylight Savings Time and the Affects on Persons Living with Memory Loss
For most of us in the United Stares, we will be “falling back” on Sunday, November 3rd as daylight savings time comes to an end. This means that the already waning days of autumn become an hour shorter. Arizona and Hawaii do not participate in this annual time change. For people living with memory loss, this transition can be even more apparent. Approximately 20% of people with dementia experience more confusion at the end of the day and into the night, often referred as sundown syndrome. Increase anxiety, aggression, pacing or wandering can also be a symptom of late evening confusion.
Research shows that our body circadian rhythms and daily sense of routine responds to natural light. While much of our day is spend indoors in artificial light, we are still affected by our outdoor world. Often people report feeling” out of whack” at the end of daylight savings times as it can exacerbate depression and sleep disorders.
It’s theorized that people associate the sun going down with returning home. People with
memory loss might be tolerant of staying in a place that feels unfamiliar during the day, but they understandably may become a lot more perturbed at the idea of spending the night. Many people with dementia recall going home from work at dusk or being at home to cook dinner and take care of their children. It’s extremely stressful feeling “trapped” and unable to fulfill these responsibilities. The shadows of dusk can cause visual disruption for people with Alzheimer’s disease, and feeling tired at the end of the day makes everything a little bit harder for people with and without memory loss.
Below are some tips to take for extra preparation for the darker afternoons and evenings on and after November 3rd.
- Have a routine during the day and at bedtime to help regulate a person’s disrupted body clock.
- Take a walk after breakfast and sit outside during daylight as much as possible.
- If unable to take walks, make sure there is light in the house in the morning.
- Close the blinds in the late afternoon and turn on inside lights.
- Take it easy in the early evenings and use calming sensory activities such as using aromas that are pleasant.
If you would like more information on our Memory Ministry, Memory Cafe, or our Family and Friends Workshops or need tips for supporting persons living with memory loss, please contact Vicky Pitner, Memory Ministry Coordinator at vpitnerfirstumc.org.