TOLEDO- Daylight Savings Time ended on Nov. 2, bringing with it an extra hour of darkness in the evening. DST can bring more than just an adjustment to sleep schedules, especially for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is the largest nonprofit voluntary health organization in the world that focuses on the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Pam Myers, senior director, programs for the Alzheimer’s Association, oversees the Northwest Ohio Chapter and the Central Ohio Chapter.
“Our mission is to support families and caregivers and folks living with the disease, support research, advocate for all people living with dementia and their caregivers and eventually find a cure,” Myers said.
With the time change, Myers explained the ways one can help support someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
“Folks that are living with dementia…they tend to get more tired, confused, irritable, and when it gets dark sooner or when the time changes, sometimes that tendency to have confusion and agitation increases,” Myers said.
The Alzheimer’s Association started on a national level in 1980 with the founder Jerome H. Stone.
“His wife was living with dementia and he [Stone] was just looking for resources and looking for other people that were on the same journey, because this is a progressive disease,” Myers said.
There is a wide range of services available at the association:
- Community education programs about dementia and the symptoms
- Awareness presentations about Alzheimer’s and dementia updates
- Training for caregivers
- Guidance for transitions for home care
- Programs emphasizing early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s
- Support groups
- A 24/7 Helpline
- Care consultation to personalize support
All of the services provided at the Association are free of charge.
Myers said it’s helpful when caregivers can give individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia structured schedules so that they know what’s coming next.
“A person living with dementia has to really think through all the different steps in a process. So in turn, they get very tired by the end of the day and so that kind of contributes to the confusion and they’re just tired after all of their day’s activities,” Myers said.
She recommends that people should keep the lights on longer at night to keep the space bright.
“Keep the house more well lit, keep people to their routines as much as possible, and try not to schedule over-stimulating activities late in the day, and you want to try to keep the person as calm as you can,” Myers said.
“Think about just when you go to work in the morning; you get up and you eat and you brush your teeth and you get in your car and you walk into the office. I mean, we do that just almost automatically. A person living with dementia has to really think through all the different steps in a process,” Myers said.
Adjusting to time changes is difficult for everyone, especially those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. If you need help finding resources, visit alz.org/nwohio. The 24/7 Helpline (800-272-3900) is available for anyone who needs it.
