Our daily lives are driven by the concept of time — from waking up as our alarm sounds to ensuring we make it to that 10 a.m. appointment. Yet for seniors navigating a dementia diagnosis, time disorientation is a common symptom from the earliest stages. As dementia advances, remembering dates, distinguishing days, and telling day from night becomes difficult and confusing.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

The value of clocks and calendars for seniors with dementia

Clocks for the elderly and calendars for dementia patients are vital tools that help older adults with memory loss understand their surroundings. Designed for seniors facing Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, these “day clocks” or “day and night calendars” display the time, date, and day of the week in a clear digital format.

Developed with insights from dementia patients, caregivers, and health care experts, dementia clocks for seniors also include visual cues like sun and moon icons to help distinguish day from night.^[01] Some models also provide weather indicators, aiding preparation for outdoor conditions. These clocks for dementia support daily routines and offer reminders for medication, meal times, or medical appointments, easing confusion and fostering a comfortable routine for your loved one.

Clocks for the elderly with dementia can help with the following:

Promoting independence. You may notice your loved one repeatedly asking what time, day, or year it is. Voice-activated clocks for the elderly with dementia can respond to these questions, meaning users can check the time without asking a caretaker.
Providing clarity. As dementia progresses, visuospatial skills often worsen. This can make reading a traditional clock face difficult or even impossible. Studies have shown that digital clocks offer greater readability for seniors with dementia.^[02]
Reducing anxiety. People with memory loss may feel sudden anxiety when they think they’ve missed a meal or forgotten a special occasion. Dementia clocks for the elderly can be set with specific reminders for your loved ones, providing personalized alerts to eat lunch or call their grandchildren.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Best clocks for dementia patients

If you’ve noticed your parent experiencing confusion or insecurity around time, a dementia clock for seniors is a simple addition to their home that could improve their quality of life. The following clocks may help provide a sense of empowerment for seniors with dementia.

1. American Lifetime Day Clock

Features: From trusted health care brand American Lifetime, this day clock for seniors offers a bright, 8-inch screen with easy-to-interpret messaging, like “Now it’s Sunday morning.” The home screen displays the time, full day of the week, month, and date. It also has five preprogrammed alarms, including a wake-up message, medication reminder, and appointment alert. In addition to quality products, American Lifetime gives back 10% of profits to charities researching dementia, social services, and adult education.

Cost: Get this highly rated dementia clock for seniors from American Lifetime for $59.95.

2. Robin Digital Day Clock

Features: This completely customizable, full-color clock for the elderly is excellent for seniors with dementia. The date, time, and day of the week are displayed clearly, and there’s no limit on the number of alarms you can create. Choose from 20 preprogrammed events or design your own, including personalized birthday and holiday reminders. Select a customizable dimming schedule based on your loved one’s sleep schedule. Set periodic time announcements and a clear voice will announce the time aloud. Choose from an 8-, 12-, or 15-inch display and two different frame colors.

Cost: The 8-inch display is $99.99, the 12-inch display is $149.99, and the 15-inch display is $199.99.

3. Five Senses Digital Calendar Clock

Features: With bright, bold lettering and an 8-inch display screen, the Five Senses Digital Calendar Clock is easy to read and understand. The digital display shows the day of the week and the time of day. It also includes alarm settings formatted to indicate when it’s time for medication. This dementia clock for seniors uses colored image icons that indicate times of day, differentiating between morning, afternoon, evening, and nighttime. An auto-dim feature reduces brightness between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Cost: Find the Five Senses Digital Calendar Clock on Amazon for $54.99.

4. RecallCue App

Features: This application is completely free and can be installed on a senior’s tablet, turning it into an easy-to-read clock that shows the time, date, and day of the week. An optional paid upgrade provides access to additional Pro features. With the Pro plan, caregivers and family members can download the mobile version of the app to remotely set calendar reminders, send text or photo messages, and even play nostalgic music on their loved one’s tablet.

Cost: Download the RecallCue app for free on Apple and Android devices. The upgraded Pro plan subscription is $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year.

5. Véfaîî Dementia Clock

Features: The Véfaîî Dementia Clock includes 15 alarm options and four text colors to choose from. Preprogrammed alarms like “drink water” and “time to shower” can be set to repeat, and each alarm features its own icon. A remote control allows users to change the screen layout or turn off alarms from up to 16 feet away. The day of the week, time, and date are all featured on the 7-inch, high-resolution home screen. When you visit your loved one, bring a flash drive with new photos to display on the clock so they can see recent pictures of family and friends.

Cost: Purchase the Véfaîî Dementia Clock on Amazon for $44.99.

Talk with a Senior Care Advisor

Our advisors help 300,000 families each year find the right senior care for their loved ones.

Additional memory care strategies

Dementia clocks for seniors can keep them connected and active in their daily lives, especially those in the early and middle stages of dementia. A scientific study provided night and day clocks for seniors with dementia, and after a three-week period of usage, 80% of them reported the clocks to be useful — with 78% of caregivers in agreement.^[03]

In addition to a dementia clock for seniors, you may want to consider the following memory care strategies for your loved one.

Create a relaxing home environment. Lightboxes and night lights can help minimize confusion around the time of day, providing cues for the evening when the lights are bright and daytime when the lights are off.^[04]
Try an engaging activity. Create collages of family photos, watch old movies and television shows, or reignite one of your loved one’s passions, like knitting or painting.
Explore great gift ideas for seniors with dementia. From personalized photo memory games to a dementia-friendly music player, find gifts that will keep minds active.

As your loved one progresses through the stages of dementia, you may need additional help caring for them. For personalized support, contact our Senior Care Advisors to learn about in-home care or specialized memory care communities.

11 Watches for Seniors with Dementia

Effective, Low-Impact Exercises for Seniors

SHARE THE ARTICLE

References

Boyd, H., Evans, N., & Harris, N. (2016). A clock that does not tell the time: How the day clock meets the needs of people living with dementia.Designing Around People.
Koreki, A., Kusudo, K., Suzuki, H., Nozaki, S., Onaya, M., Bowes, A., & Sado, M. (2021, September 13). Are analogue or digital clocks friendlier for people living with dementia?Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra.
Topo, P., Saarikalle, K., Begley, E., Cahill, S., Holthe, T., & Macijauskiene, J. (2007, April 13). “I don’t know about the past or the future, but today it’s Friday” — Evaluation of a time aid for people with dementia.Technology and Disability.
Pincock, S. (2003, August 30). Light boxes can help older people with dementia.BMJ.

Meet the Author

Leah Hallstrom

Leah Hallstrom is a copywriter at OurParents, crafting articles on senior living topics like home health, memory care, and hospice services. Previously, she worked as a communications professional in academia. Leah holds bachelor’s degrees in communication studies and psychology from the University of Kansas.

The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom (of which OurParents is a trademark) and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

5 Best Dementia Clocks for Your Senior Loved One

Let our care assessment guide you

In this Article

The value of clocks and calendars for seniors with dementia

Let our care assessment guide you

Best clocks for dementia patients

1. American Lifetime Day Clock

2. Robin Digital Day Clock

3. Five Senses Digital Calendar Clock

4. RecallCue App

5. Véfaîî Dementia Clock

Talk with a Senior Care Advisor

Additional memory care strategies

Related Articles