Experts offer tips as daylight saving time ends in Elizabeth City area

Clocks will fall back one hour this weekend, marking the end of daylight saving time, WITN reported. This change can disrupt sleep schedules for people of all ages, including young children and adults with dementia, according to health experts.

Dr. William Wooten from ECU Health explained that while clocks change overnight, the body's internal clock does not, which can make maintaining regular sleep routines challenging, especially for children. He suggested parents use the time change to encourage earlier bedtimes, which can improve school performance and behavior.

Beth Sulkowski of the Alzheimer’s Association North Carolina Chapters highlighted that older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease may experience heightened confusion and restlessness due to the abrupt shift in light and dark cycles. She emphasized the importance of caregivers keeping consistent routines to reduce these effects.

Sulkowski recommended families prepare ahead by gradually shifting daily activities and mealtimes 10 to 15 minutes later before the time change to help ease the transition. She noted that about 210,000 North Carolinians live with Alzheimer’s, underscoring the relevance of these tips for many in the area.