November 2023 • PharmaTimes Magazine • 20-21
// TECHNOLOGY //
Time after time
Overcoming time perception challenges in dementia through technology
For many navigating the ups and downs of dementia, the distortion of time can be a puzzling challenge.
It’s not just about forgetting the day of the week – it’s about the deeper intricacies of time perception and the sometimes-distressing consequences of this disorienting experience.
At the heart of this are the real lives of people with dementia and their caregivers. Those who, day in and day out, are navigating the challenges of changes to time perception and finding solutions to make living with dementia as joyful as possible.
Read on as we delve into what dyschronometria is like for people with dementia, including real-life anecdotes from people affected by it. Plus, we look into the technological solutions out there for managing time perception challenges.
Dyschronometria in dementia
Put simply, dyschronometria is a disruption in the ability to accurately perceive time. This cognitive challenge often leads to the sensation of time feeling out of sync or distorted.
In the context of dementia, it’s not just an abstract concept. Its manifestations are very real and can deeply affect daily life.
Here are some examples:
- Mornings may feel like evenings: Someone with dyschronometria might be compelled to prepare for bed shortly after breakfast, thrown off by their internal clock
- Duration confusion: Activities like taking a bath could feel like they last hours, or conversely, a two-hour nap might feel like a mere few minutes
- Sequencing issues: Tasks that we often take for granted, like first brushing our teeth and then having breakfast, can get jumbled. Someone might end up eating first and then brushing or skipping one task altogether
- Mismatched activity times: Activities that are typically done during daylight, such as gardening or going for a walk, might suddenly be attempted in the middle of the night because the individual feels it’s daytime
- Getting lost in conversations: A person with dyschronometria might lose track of time during conversations. They could feel like they’ve been speaking for hours when it’s only been a few minutes, leading to premature endings or prolonged dialogues that tire them out
- Misjudging event durations: Preparing for an event that’s supposed to last an entire afternoon might be approached with the mindset that it’s just a brief, 30-minute gathering. This could lead to under-preparation or a feeling of being overwhelmed
- Over- or underestimating wait times: Waiting for a doctor’s appointment or a bus might become a challenge. What feels like a five-minute wait could be an hour, leading to impatience or anxiety. On the other hand, thinking they’ve waited for a long time, they might leave a place prematurely.
- Day-to-day task overlaps: They might start multiple daily tasks simultaneously – boiling water for tea, taking a shower, and listening to the news – only to leave one or more incomplete because their perception made them feel like they were spending too much time on one thing.
Distorted views
Distorted perception goes beyond simple forgetfulness. It can gradually erode a person’s confidence in carrying out day-to-day tasks and diminish his or her sense of independence. This is where the importance of understanding, support and innovative solutions comes into play.
Following our exploration of dyschronometria, it’s pivotal to understand the real-world implications this time perception challenge brings to the lives of those living with dementia.
Here are some lived experiences from Relish’s active community of people with dementia and caregivers. Their experiences of living with dementia, among many others, offer us extremely invaluable insights, directly shaping how we can devise solutions and care that resonate with real-life challenges.
‘Dyschronometria is a disruption in the ability to accurately perceive time. This cognitive challenge often leads to the sensation of time feeling out of sync’
Lorraine Brown: Once a dedicated mental health care worker for over two decades, Lorraine’s encounter with early-onset Alzheimer’s brought unexpected challenges. Sundowning syndrome makes afternoons seem like a shadowed maze, making her turn to devices like Alexa for reminders to take medication, eat or complete other daily tasks.
Gerald King: Gerald has always had a tradition with his children – taking them out for milkshakes. Now, due to young-onset Alzheimer’s, his time perception has been severely impacted, leading him to forget these treasured moments. While he heavily depends on technology for daily tasks, he also uses it to remind him of these special outings with his children, ensuring they still have their cherished milkshake time together.
Keith Oliver: A former headteacher, Keith’s dedication to education didn’t waver, even with his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He might describe some days as driving through fog, but he’s determined to see through it. With diaries to log events and capture moments, he’s also teaching the world about living positively with dementia, one book at a time.
Tech transformation
In today’s digital era, technology is making leaps and bounds in addressing specific challenges like dyschronometria faced by those with dementia.
Here’s a glimpse into how tech is transforming lived experiences:
- Smart assistants: For someone with dementia, devices like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri can set reminders for medication, appointments, or even those cherished routines, such as Gerald’s milkshake outings with his children
- Digital diaries: As seen in Keith Oliver’s case, maintaining multiple diaries can be essential to keep track of daily activities and memories. Digital versions make this task even more accessible, with options to add photos, voice notes and set reminders
- Adaptive lighting systems: Sundowning syndrome, such as Lorraine experiences, can be aided by lighting systems that adapt to the time of day, helping to reduce confusion as the sun sets
- Specialised dementia clocks: These dementia clocks display not only the time but also the part of the day (e.g., morning, afternoon, evening) to give a broader sense of time, which can be beneficial for those losing track of hours
- Dementia clocks with task-planning functions: This innovative technology helps address time perception challenges and empowers individuals to live more independently and confidently. Going beyond just displaying time, they act as a gentle nudge, signalling meal times, medication hours or bedtimes, helping users maintain a structured routine and stay oriented throughout the day by breaking down the day into understandable segments.
As dementia-specific technology continues to advance, more innovations are on the way to help individuals with dementia relish every moment of their lives despite their challenges.
It’s important that technology and care remain person-centric to ensure the most effective, tailored solutions. After all, time waits for no one.
Bianca Ansbro-Elliott is Brand Manager at Relish. Go to relish-life.com
PharmaTimes
PharmaTimes is the UK’s leading pharmaceutical magazine, tracking the trends and issues that affect the industry here in the UK, in Europe and across the world. We deliver independent, authoritative and trustworthy content through impartial, balanced and informed opinion and analysis.