Have you started to notice a difference yet? No? You might. The clocks went forward last night, and sometimes that changes things when you’re supporting someone living with dementia. The clocks going forward with dementia can affect things more than you might expect, and if today feels slightly off, there’s usually a reason for it.
I didn’t used sit there thinking “this is daylight saving time affecting things,” I just noticed mum was a bit more tired, a bit more unsettled, or not quite herself, and it took me a while to realise that even a one hour shift can throw off sleep, appetite, mood, especially when someone relies on routine.
What You Might Notice
For most of us, the body clock grumbles for a day or two and then adjusts. But the human body clock, the circadian rhythm, is a deeply biological thing. It is driven by light, by routine, by the timing of meals, movement and sleep. And in dementia, that internal clock is already under pressure, so an hour’s sudden shift in light and routine can have a noticeable impact and lead to a few unsettled days.
Every person is different, and dementia affects everyone in its own way. But here are some of the things that commonly show up around clock changes and in the days that follow:
More confusion than usual – The person may seem more disorientated, more unsure of where they are or what time of day it is.
Increased agitation or restlessness – Particularly in the late afternoon and early evening. That internal clock is telling them one thing; the actual clock on the wall is telling them another.
Worsened sundowning – If sundowning is already part of life, the clock change often intensifies it, at least temporarily.
Sleep disruption – Waking earlier, taking longer to settle at night, or waking in the night unsure whether it is time to get up. The extra evening light can be particularly confusing.
Changes in appetite – Hunger cues are tied to routine and body clock too. Mealtimes aren’t at the usual times so someone eats less, or seems uninterested in food.
Low mood or withdrawal – sometimes you’ll seem loved ones get quieter during the day
A Word on Sundowning
Sundowning is the term used for the increased confusion, restlessness, anxiety or agitation that many people with dementia experience in the late afternoon and early evening. It is thought to be linked to fading light, tiredness built up through the day, and a disrupted internal body clock.
When the clocks change and the evenings suddenly become an hour lighter, the brain gets a confusing message. The cues that usually signal “evening is coming, the day is winding down” arrive later than expected.
It usually settles within a week or two as the brain slowly recalibrates. But in the meantime, here are some practical ways to ease those few days.
What Can Help if Sundowning Feels Worse
It is that mismatch between light, routine, and body clock that tends to drive the change.
- Use curtains or blinds earlier than you normally would to reduce daylight and help signal the start of the evening
- Add soft indoor lighting to create a clear shift from day to evening, even if it is still bright outside
- Do not rely on outdoor light levels to guide the evening routine, as they are now out of sync
- Keep the late afternoon and evening simple, familiar, and low stimulation
- Keep the same sequence of the evening routine so it feels recognisable
- Begin the routine based on how they seem rather than waiting strictly for the clock
- Avoid overstimulation in the late afternoon, including busy conversations or tasks
- Prepare for that late afternoon window with something calm and familiar ready to go, folding, sorting, looking through photographs, or gentle music from their era
- Let the timing of the routine shift gradually over a few days rather than moving everything forward by a full hour immediately
What Can Help with Confusion and Disorientation
Confusion can increase slightly because the day no longer lines up in the way their brain expects.
- Keep explanations short and simple rather than trying to fully orientate them to time and date
- Repeat answers calmly without pointing out repetition
- Use reassurance more than correction
- Keep the environment familiar and avoid adding new changes on top of the time shift
- Sit with them where possible, your presence can reduce uncertainty
What Can Help with Agitation and Restlessness
Restlessness can increase when something feels off but cannot be explained.
- Reduce background noise and stimulation, especially later in the day
- Keep interactions calm and steady
- Offer familiar, low effort activities rather than anything new
- Avoid trying to reason or argue if they resist something
- Give your loved one space when needed, while still staying nearby
What Can Help with Sleep Disruption
Sleep can take a few days to settle because the body clock needs time to catch up.
- Allow a slower start to the morning rather than forcing the usual routine
- Use strong natural light in the morning by opening curtains early, this helps reset the body clock
- Avoid too much bright light later in the evening indoors, keep lighting softer and warmer
- Begin winding down earlier in your routine, even if it still looks like daytime outside
- Keep bedtime calm, familiar, and guided by cues rather than the clock
What Can Help When Appetite Changes
If usual mealtimes feel off, following appetite tends to work better than forcing the clock.
- Offer meals based on cues rather than strict times for a few days
- Try smaller portions more frequently instead of expecting full meals
- Keep snacks and drinks available throughout the day
- Focus on hydration if food intake drops
- Keep meals familiar and simple
What Can Help with Low Mood or Withdrawal
A quieter mood can show up when the day feels out of sync, even if nothing else has changed.
- Keep expectations low and allow for quieter days
- Sit together without needing to fill the silence
- Offer reassurance through presence rather than constant conversation
- Stick to familiar activities without pressure to engage fully
- Accept changes in mood without trying to correct them immediately
What Can Help with the Overall Adjustment
This is not about getting everything aligned to the new clock straight away, it is about easing into it.
- Let routines bend slightly while keeping their structure familiar
- Follow their cues more than the clock for the first few days
- Use light intentionally, bright in the morning, softer earlier in the evening
- Gradually shift timing forward over several days rather than all at once
- Keep the environment predictable and consistent
- Respond to what you are seeing rather than what the clock says
In most cases, things settle within a few days.
A Note for Those Who Live With This Every Day
Give it time, and give yourself grace. A difficult few days does not mean a permanent deterioration. It is often just the clock change and the brain catching up.
Watch, respond, rest when possible. And if things continue to feel harder, reach out to a GP, a dementia nurse, a local support group, or an online community of people who understand what this is like, both for advice and to rule out anything else.