For many of us, knowing what day it is, what time it is or what we are doing next is something we rarely have to think about.
But for a person living with Dementia, understanding time can become increasingly difficult.
They may wake up and be unsure whether it is morning or evening, forget what day of the week it is, or become anxious because they cannot remember what is supposed to happen next.
These changes can be confusing for both the person living with Dementia and the people supporting them. However, there are simple ways to create more structure and familiarity throughout the day.
Why can Dementia affect our sense of time?
Dementia can affect memory, attention, perception and the ability to process information. As a result, a person may have difficulty working out where they are in the day or remembering upcoming events.
Research into Dementia and time orientation has found that difficulties identifying the time of day can occur across different stages of Dementia.
This can sometimes lead to questions such as:
- "What day is it?"
- "Is it morning or night?"
- "When are we going?"
- "Have I had breakfast?"
- "What am I supposed to do today?"
While these questions can be repetitive, they are often a reflection of genuine uncertainty rather than simply forgetfulness.
Why familiar routines can help
When time becomes harder to understand, routines can provide useful structure.
Doing familiar activities at roughly the same time each day can create predictable cues that help a person understand what comes next.
For example:
Morning: Wake up → get dressed → have breakfast → take medication → go for a walk
Afternoon: Lunch → favourite activity → afternoon tea → family visit
Evening: Dinner → relaxing activity → get ready for bed → bedtime
A routine does not need to be rigid. The goal is to create a familiar rhythm that makes the day feel more predictable.
Dementia Australia notes that predictable routines can help support orientation and make everyday life feel safer and more manageable.
Make time easier to see
Traditional clocks aren't always the easiest way for someone with dementia to understand the time.
A clock with hands may tell us that it is 7:30, for example, but that information may not answer the questions a person is actually trying to work out:
Is it morning or evening? What day is it? What is happening today?
Clear visual information can be more helpful.
Consider placing a large, easy-to-read clock somewhere that the person regularly spends time, such as the kitchen, bedroom or living room.
Calendars, whiteboards and visual schedules can also provide useful reminders of appointments, visitors, activities and important events.
The key is to keep information simple, clear and consistent.
Helping someone understand day and night
Confusion between day and night can be particularly distressing.
Someone living with Dementia may wake during the night and believe it is morning, or become concerned that they have missed an appointment or activity.
Simple environmental cues can help reinforce the difference between daytime and nighttime.
During the day, consider:
- Opening curtains and letting in natural light
- Keeping regular mealtimes
- Encouraging enjoyable daytime activities
- Getting outside when possible
- Keeping the home well lit
In the evening:
- Reduce stimulation
- Begin a familiar wind-down routine
- Use softer lighting
- Keep bedtime consistent where possible
- Avoid making unnecessary changes to the usual routine
Maintaining a regular routine can also help support a person's body clock and make the transition between daytime and nighttime easier.
Using technology to support orientation
Technology can be helpful when it is designed around the needs of the person using it.
The Idem Smart Clock is designed specifically to support people experiencing cognitive decline and memory challenges.
Rather than simply displaying a traditional time, it prominently shows the time, date, day of the week and time of day on a large, easy-to-read screen.
It can also provide reminders, messages, notes and events through the Idem Companion App, allowing family members or caregivers to update information remotely.
This can be particularly useful for families who want to provide gentle reminders throughout the day without having to be physically present for every reminder.
Keep reminders reassuring, not corrective
When someone with Dementia becomes confused about the time or day, it can be tempting to repeatedly correct them.
But constantly saying "No, it's Tuesday" or "I've already told you that" can sometimes increase frustration or anxiety.
Instead, try offering the information gently.
For example:
Instead of:
"You know it's not morning. It's 8pm."
Try:
"It's evening now. We've had dinner, and it's nearly time to get ready for bed."
The second approach provides the same information while also giving the person context.
Visual reminders can help take some of the pressure away from these conversations.
Creating a calmer, more predictable day
There is no single routine that works for every person living with Dementia.
What matters is finding a rhythm that feels familiar and comfortable for that individual.
Think about the activities that already form part of their day:
- What time do they usually wake up?
- When do they like to have breakfast?
- What activities do they enjoy?
- When do they usually become tired?
- Who do they look forward to seeing?
- What helps them feel calm?
These familiar moments can become useful anchors throughout the day.
The aim isn't to control every minute. It's to create enough consistency that the person can feel more confident about what is happening now and what is coming next.
Small changes can make a meaningful difference
For someone living with Dementia, something as simple as knowing "It is Tuesday morning, and my daughter is coming to visit this afternoon" can provide reassurance and a sense of familiarity.
Clear visual information, consistent routines, familiar surroundings and gentle reminders can all work together to make everyday life easier to navigate.
And for families and caregivers, these tools can provide another way to support independence and connection - while reducing some of the uncertainty that can come with memory and time-related changes.
Looking for more ways to support everyday living?
At Dementia Shop Australia, we offer thoughtfully selected products designed to support people living with Dementia, as well as their families, carers and support networks.
From clocks and reminders to activities, sensory products and practical everyday aids, our range is designed with one goal in mind: helping make everyday living a little easier.