Despite it being seen as a technological downgrade, an alarm clock has and will always be a necessity. This new generation may never get it but alarm clocks were at some point one of the greatest inventions after watches.
Alarm clocks play a very crucial role in the life of the elderly. The are used to remind about taking medicine, appointments and more.
They also help with tracking the time of day, week and more.
If you are a caregiver looking after the elderly or are a senior yourself looking for an alarm clock for your senior loved one, you are just in the right place.
After sifting through tons of alarm clocks out there, we came up with a great list of the best alarm clocks for seniors that are guaranteed to suit your needs. But before that, let’s look at some of the factors to consider when buying these clocks.
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Top Alarm Clocks For Seniors
Here are our top picks for alarm clocks. We took into consideration clocks with large font, day and week, and even smart clocks.
1. American Lifetime Day Clock
To start off our list is the American Lifetime Newest Version Day Clock by American Lifetime. For starters, this clock is designed to display the current time, day of the week, date, month, and the part of the day without any confusing abbreviations. This makes it very easy for seniors to comprehend.
The clock does not need a lot of steps to set it up, making it very convenient for the elderly. All you need to do is plug it in, and you are good to go. Also, it has a built-in kickstand and a keyhole giving you the option of either displaying it on the surface or mounting it on the wall.
It’s 8-inch large illuminated display makes it easily visible from all angles up to 20 feet away, which is perfect for seniors who have problems with their eyesight.
It is also equipped with a battery backup in case of a power outage, and it also auto-adjusts to daylight mode.
If you are looking for an alarm clock with several multi-function alarms, then this one’s for you. With up to 5 multi-function alarms, the senior user has an alarm waking them up, reminding them to take their medication, go to a doctor’s appointment, and even have a meal. Note, these alarm messages are not customizable.
The American Lifetime company does not solely look at earning profits. For each day clock that is purchased, 10% of the profits go to supporting charities focused on dementia research, social services, and education.
What we like:
- It has an 8-inch large illuminated display making it visible both in the dark and from a distance.
- It has five multi-function alarms that allow the user to set different alarms throughout the day.
- It is designed to display the current time, part of the day, day of the week, and day without any confusing abbreviations, which helps seniors struggling with memory loss.
- It has a battery backup in case of a power outage.
- It is easy to handle
What we don’t like:
- It is quite expensive.
- Its dim lights are quite an eyesore
- Alarm messages are not customizable
Best for:
Judging from its key features, this alarm clock is perfect for seniors with memory impairment or dementia.
2. Robin Digital Day Clock
If you are one of those who are always on the lookout for new and improved products, then this Robin 2020 version digital day clock might just be what you are looking for.
The clock has been thoughtfully designed to absolutely suit a stylish and fashionable senior. Equipped with an 8-inch crystal bright high definition color display, the clock is easily visible from all sides of the room.
It also has an easy-access side button, making it ideal for the elderly. Just like most of the alarm clocks for seniors, this one has multi-function alarms. But what makes it stand out is that it has customized alarms messages, so you can set as many alarms as you want.
What’s more, it has a talking button that announces the day and time in a loud and clear voice, making it ideal for seniors with dementia and eyesight difficulties. Its adjustable volume button enables the user to set the alarm volume to a level that they are comfortable with.
The clock also allows you to schedule periodic time announcements as well as screen reminders, which is especially beneficial to seniors struggling with memory loss and dementia.
It is also equipped with a battery backup in case of a power outage, and it automatically resets time and date immediately when the power returns.
What we like:
- The 8-inch sizeable high definition display which makes it very visible
- The customizable alarm messages
- That you can set as many alarms as you want
- The one-touch button that announces the day and time in a loud and clear voice
- Its packaging and manual does not indicate anything to do with dementia or memory loss, making the clock an ideal gift for sensitive seniors
Best for:
Although it possesses almost the same features as other alarm clocks, its customized alarm messages and its ability to announce the time and date makes it unique.
3. Echo Dot- Smart Alarm Clock with Alexa
Another successful device from Amazon but not so suitable for the elderly, if you ask us. The smart clock comes with everybody’s helper- Alexa.
You can ask Alexa to set the alarm, set a reminder, control the volume, just to mention a few. It also has hands-free voice control, so the user can ask the clock to set the alarm, or a reminder, from a distance. What’s more, you can set up your voice profile so it can easily recognize your voice.
You can also use it to see live camera footage from other rooms, which is very helpful if you would want to keep an eye on your senior loved one. It also has a 2.5-inch display, which might not be suitable for seniors who have poor eyesight.
What we like:
- It allows you to set multiple alarms. It has a camera that allows you to keep an eye on your loved one.The voice helper- Alexa, you can easily set the alarm, or know what time it is just by asking it.
- Great for Seniors who like to check the weather.
What we don’t like:
- It is very complex for an elderly to operate.
- It cannot set the alarm unless you instruct it, which makes it unsuitable for seniors with dementia or memory loss.
- It has a small display making it unsuitable for seniors who have poor eyesight.
- It has a camera on it, which most seniors might find uncomfortable being watched.
Best for:
While this clock is advanced technological-wise, it is not a suitable clock for the elderly.
4. K-Star Large Font LED Alarm Clock
If simplicity is your thing, then this might be the alarm clock you are looking for.
Apart from it’s beautiful and simple design, the clock has a 9-inch display with significant illuminated digits that can easily be visible across the room, making it perfect for seniors with poor eyesight.
It has an adjustable brightness control, so the user can easily adjust it to the level they want. It is also equipped with a backup battery in case of a power outage and a snooze button that allows the user to set the snooze up to 60 minutes. The alarm lasts for 3 minutes, which is long enough to wake someone up.
Lastly, it has two USB charger ports, which is convenient for a senior who finds it tedious to get up to answer the phone.
What we like:
- The large display unit for clear visibility
- The simple design
- The USB charger ports for connectivity
What we don’t like:
- It is very lightweight, so getting damaged is equally easy.
Best for:
For seniors with eyesight problems, this is the most suitable alarm clock for them.
5. Sharp Digital Alarm Clock
To wrap up our list is the sharp Digital Alarm Clock by MZ Berger and CO LTD. It is simply designed, making it easy to operate. It has a large enough display with Jumbo illuminated LED digits that can easily be visible up to 30 feet away, making it perfect for seniors with eyesight problems.
It has an adjustable brightness control so the user can adjust the brightness of the display to a level that they are comfortable with.
The clock has a very loud alarm volume, which is just what seniors with hearing difficulties need. It also comes with adjustable volume control to allow the user to adjust the volume to the desired level.
What’s more, it also comes with a backup battery in case of a power outage, and it has a swivel base for easy viewing no matter what position it’s placed in.
What we like:
- It has a very simple design for easier operation
- It has a Jumbo illuminated LED digits and a swivel base for easy viewing.
- Its loud alarm volume makes the clock suitable for seniors with hearing loss
What we don’t like:
- You cannot see the clock in a dark room unless you turn on the backlights, which may hurt your eyes.
- It does not have multi-function alarms, so it is not suitable for seniors with dementia or memory loss.
Best for:
The combination of its features makes this clock ideal for seniors with both eyesight problems and hearing loss.
Features To Consider
Of course, there is a wide range of alarm clocks for seniors out there in the market, but when shopping for one, you have to carefully consider a couple of factors that will suit your needs.
The alarm clock should be easy to handle
The appropriate alarm clock for seniors should be easy to handle. For starters, the clock’s buttons, be it the snooze button or sleep button should be large and comfortable to press. They should not require much force to either slide or press down to activate them. So, in this case, any alarm clock that has a pinhead button is a big no-no.
Also, the steps required to set the alarm should be easy to comprehend, with minimal instructions, especially if you are a senior living alone. So clocks that have multiple buttons or require long cycling through all the numbers to set the alarm is also a big no-no. The clock’s buttons and controls should be easy to read. This means that any writings on these buttons should be extensive and highly contrasted from the clock’s background for easy visibility.
The function of each button should be indicated with a large print, and the senior using it should be able to quickly tell if the alarm clock is either set to AM or PM.
The alarm clock should be loud enough to hear.
Recent statistics have it that one in every three people in the United States between the ages of 65 and 74 has a hearing loss, while half of those older than 75 have difficulties in hearing.
Judging from this, most seniors need an extra loud alarm clock. Better still, purchasing one that has an adjustable volume button would be better. That way, if you are the one using it, you could adjust it to a volume that you are sure you can hear from a distance.
Another great alternative is to buy alarm clocks with flashlights and vibrating pads, especially for the seniors who have chronic hearing loss.
The alarm clock should have a large display.
A clock that has a large, bright display with big numbers can be very convenient, especially for the elderly with eyesight problems because it can be easily read from a distance and in the dark.
The clock should also allow you to set multiple alarms. According to recent statistics, approximately 40% of people in the United States aged 65 or older have age-associated memory impairment, with only 1% progressing to dementia each year.
This means that they have to be reminded of a lot of stuff, some of which are very important. An alarm clock that allows you to set multiple alarms is very beneficial for them. In addition to waking them up in the morning, the alarms can be set to remind them to take their medicine or go for their medical appointments, or even remind them to take their meals.
The clock should have the day of the week, AM, and PM displays.
This is especially important for seniors who have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. A clock that displays what day or time or whether it is day or night is beneficial to them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best alarm clock for seniors with hearing impairments?
There are several alarm clock options for seniors with hearing loss. You can opt for an incredibly loud alarm clock for starters, but in most cases, this one may be distracting and uncomfortable for the other people living with the seniors. Other great alternatives include an alarm clock with a bed shaker. It automatically starts shaking when the alarm clock goes off. Alarm clocks with flashlights work as well.
Which is the best alarm clock for seniors with dementia?
Seniors with dementia need to constantly be reminded of what time it is and what part of the day it is for them to follow their routine.
Otherwise, they may begin to have anxiety. So, they need alarm clocks with several special features to suit their needs.
For starters, they should have an alarm clock with a large display and large illuminated digits so that they can easily tell what time it is. An alarm clock with customized multi-function alarms will enable you to set different alarms to remind them of various activities like taking their medication, going to a doctor’s appointment, or even having a meal.
Also, an alarm clock that can verbally tell them what time and part of the day it is will work perfectly.
Which is the best alarm clock for seniors with arthritis?
Arthritis is an excruciating chronic disease. So an alarm clock that has small buttons can be painful to operate. In this case, alarm clocks that have large enough buttons that do not require too much pushing or twisting are the ideal ones.
Conclusion
In general, alarm clocks make a world of difference in a senior’s life. By ensuring that they stay on track with their schedules and routines, they build a sense of independence. With this buying guide, you will make an informed choice of which clock best suits your needs or the needs of the senior you are taking care of.
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