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Can anyone recommend a particular make/model of digital alarm clock that is reasonably easy for a senior to use, i.e. not too complicated to set the alarm time, and with reasonably large buttons to press for someone with finger dexterity issues?


I had given my dad an old fashioned type analog/ dial clock, figuring that would be the easiest to use and set, and he can do that, however he wants to be able to set an alarm time that would be >12 hours away so the analog clock does not work for that.


Someone may ask why I'm trying to achieve this even?! Well I decided this is a small issue/ small battle/ minor request, and I'll try to accomodate it if I can. I'm picking my battles. But if I cant find an easy to use digital clock, then I will tell him. "Sorry Dad, an easy to use digital clock is just not obtainable."

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AMAZON ECHO DEVICE, BUT NEEDS TO HAVE AMAZON MEMBERSHIP AND INTERNET
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Christine44 Jan 16, 2024
Thanks. I do have an Amazon membership + Internet. So, I'll check it out.
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I'm coming back to this to let people know about my further research and to see if people have any other suggestions. Main points:

-Mea culpa. I ordered the clock I recommended below and it was a total waste of time & money. Cheap, poorly designed (+ outsourced manufacturing) and didn't work. Negative Reviews I read -- starting at the bottom of reviews --pointed out some of the many flaws I found to be 100% accurate including: "set up is ridiculously complicated;" simply didn't work; and the alarms are very, very hard to hear -- for anyone not just seniors. (I have the same problem trying to purchase a new microwave; I used the alarm time setting a lot on an old one that fizzled out, and bought a new one. Had to take it back as I couldn't hear the timer.) I did look at one or two of the other ones recommended below by others here, but negative product reviews put me off.

-in one review, someone wrote that it's best to get a clock with an AC plug that goes directly into the wall (not into a USB attachment that then goes in the wall).
-as someone below stated, the big problem now is that almost all alarm clocks are digital -- very hard to find an "old time" clock that is simple and works for years.
--one review I read said that the best solution is actually what I'm doing now but this solution is temporary in my view: use an old, cheap smartphone that you don't have service on, but just recharge the battery and use the alarm feature. I have an "old" iphone 7 and it's very simple to set the alarm -- and you can set it for 7 days a week at specific times if you need to take a pill or pills at a certain time every day. With "newer" iphones (in my case, a 7+ which is really quite old) for some reason the alarms sometimes don't work. So, my main phone in effect doesn't have correct alarm-setting capacity (apparently a not uncommon problem) and I've given up trying to figure out why. (I know nothing about androids -- maybe their Alarm settings work better than those on I-phones).

Just thought I'd update people interested in this thread, and also see if there are other suggestions because if power goes out (a distinct possibility with all the inclement weather) even the "old smartphone" solution above will only work for whatever battery life you have. And it's always good to have a backup anyway.
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strugglinson: I did see that you have resolved your issue via your January 4, 2024 post.
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strugglinson Jan 5, 2024
Yes!! This problem - solved !
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My stroke left me deaf in my right ear. I ordered through Amazon, a clock that is for the hard of hearing. It is digital and has am/pm settings. It has buttons that took me a little time to learn. It has 2 alarms. The numbers are huge and easy to read, I like it because there is a device that goes under the mattress and makes the bed vibrate when it goes off. The first morning it went off I jumped out of bed with a WTH is going on message to my brain. (LOL) You might look in that direction. The make is Wismco model number CK1001EM.
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Christine44 Jan 5, 2024
lol. I read about those ones that make the bed vibrate but never knew someone who had one. Where I live we are somewhat earthquake prone -- had a small one just about 2 months ago. I was sitting at the computer in the evening like I am now with the wall about 7 inches from my computer and boom all of a sudden the wall starts vibrating/shaking. Had to call 911 as our building is old and had to make sure it was still "structurally sound." (It was). Anyway, if my bed started to shake I think it might wake me up but be bad for the heart...
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I looked at the page CWILLIE recommended and below the example, I saw this version...
https://lssproducts.com/extra-large-button-talking-clock/

I considered buying this clock but I just called and found out when the time is said out loud... it says the time as "digital time" (6:40) instead of like an analog clock (20 minutes before 7).

I recently decided I should get a watch for my husband as he has been without one since the battery died in the last one and told it needed expensive repairs. I wanted a digital watch with a stretch band to make it easy but none seemed appropriate so I settled on an analog watch with stretch band. I was amazed how much better he did instead of looking at a digital clock near his chair.

Prior to having a wrist watch again, he was constantly asking me if he could go to bed (often beginning at 5pm) and I repeatedly said not until 7pm and told him to look at the time on the clock. The first night he wore it, he only asked me a couple of times. I soon realized that when the digital clock showed a time like 6:40... that did not tell him it was 20 more minutes until 7pm! Even though he still struggles at times, it is easier to point out how much longer he needs to wait. The brain is amazing, isn't it!
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cwillie Jan 5, 2024
My mom had a talking watch as well as a talking clock, she was tickled pink when she discovered she could get it to cock-a-doodle-do by pressing and holding the talk button LOL
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Why an alarm clock? since I stopped working I get up when I am ready ( same time every day) I only have 1 clock in my house. I do what I want when I want. I have sleep issues my doctor actually told me not to have a clock in the bedroom. Yes I use the clock in my phone to make sure I keep appointments but that’s it
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My mother used a Westclox “atomic clock” for several years that worked great for her. It has a large snooze/light on the stand that makes it easy for them to press and see what time it is at any time of night. It also displays the date and temperature. It has an alarm feature, but I have not used it. I use it for myself now because if I wake up in the middle of the night I can press the bar on the stand and see what time it is. I like that better than a clock that is lit up all the time. I bought my mother a “Inlife” clock on Amazon that is helpful for people with dementia. It not only tells the date and time but also says the time of day: “before dawn” “morning” “evening”. It does have an alarm but I have never tried to use it. Most clocks these days are digital and might be difficult for a senior to figure out how to set alarms. I know since I am one!
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Thanks for the input. What I did was buy a quite simple digital one from Target: (see below for link)
It sets a single alarm with 24 hour setting. The buttons are large and easy to press, and the time does'nt zip by too fast when you are setting the alarm time, compared to some. I showed him how to change the alarm time, although he already forgot 2 days later. So, as suggested, I suggested to just leave it at the same time that is set and just wake up at that time each AM.

Option 2 could be the older iphone he has, but I think that is going to be a harder learning curve/ easier to forget. Lets see how option 1 goes now.

https://www.target.com/p/digital-alarm-clock-black-westclox/-/A-11062171 byT^5
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The Alexa or Echo Dot can all be set by voice.
"Alexa, set alarm for 11am"
And by gosh the alarm will go off at 11am.
If he is not changing the time each day 1 alarm should be sufficient.
My cell phone, I can set several alarms for different days, different times.
And most digital clocks now will reset themselves 2 times a year if he needs to reset clocks.
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Midkid58 Jan 4, 2024
Oh, the Alex is wonderful!! (For us, anyway.)

I love being able to ask 'her' questions and she's always spot on with the time. Even with a power loss, when it comes back on, the Alexa doesn't need to be reset.

However--once your LO loses the ability to translate spoken numbers into a coherent thought, Alexa is just one more techie thing they won't understand.

My MIL cannot look at any kind of clock and make sense of what it means, anymore. I know that's not unusual.
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Trying to find an easy to use digital alarm clock has been the bane of my existence lately! I bought a Timex non-digital one thinking the old-fashioned ones would be good, but the darn thing was very complicated to use, and didn't work when I did have it figured out. For some reason, certain I-phone models have problems with setting up alarms. (I have an older 7 model, though, that works pretty well).

As I need more than one alarm clock to wake me up I recently did some research. CNN ran some product reviews and this was their No. 1 pick: "Jall Wooden Digital Alarm Clock at top of list for functionality and simplicity." Should be available on Amazon. Good luck!
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Does he use a smart phone? Perhaps you could install a clock application on his phone. Mine allows me to set multiple alarms. Our niece set up alarms on her mother's phone to remind her to take medications.
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SS, all digital alarm clocks I've seen (including the one in my Sebastian, FL hotel room) has the ability to set by the alarm for 11 am or pm.

From what you describe about Dad's reaction to o a misstep, you are still dancing to his "if I'm unhappy, it's all your fault" jig.

That's an issue, kiddo.
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Go to Amazon type in senior digital alarm clock they have a simple one under $15. American Standard has a wide selection of senior clocks easy to use that tells you day date time and if morning afternoon evening predawn etc. after my mom passed I kept it for me as now that I’m retired I don’t have to guess what day it is anymore. Good luck.
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TopsailJanet Jan 5, 2024
I agree, I got one for my mom and liked it so much I got one for myself. It keeps me on track and I can read it from across the room.
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If he wants the alarm at the same time every day it only needs to be set once, right? I'm going to suggest something totally outside the box - what about a talking clock like this one

https://lssproducts.com/pyramid-talking-clock/

that is marketed to the visually impaired. On this one the actual display and settings are under the base so there's less chance of messing around with the settings, and a simple press of the button announces the time. (there are other styles with different features available)
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And dad will remember why he set an alarm more than 12 hours away??? Like what he's supposed to do when it goes off??

https://a.co/d/8P2dA7v

Above is the clock I recommend for all seniors.
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strugglinson Dec 30, 2023
Thanks for the link.

Its more for the reason that, he is going to bed at 8:30, but wants to make sure that whatever happens he will wake up at 11AM in order to get ready for lunch. So this goes longer than 12 hours. I think that is legit.
( reason for this, is that he knows that he will wake up one or more times to go to bathroom, have trouble getting back to sleep, etc etc, then be back in bed and sleep for some hours in the AM and sometimes oversleep lunch). Seems a reasonable request/ ask...... minor thing in grander schemes of things.
I could ask the AL staff to go every day at 11AM to make sure he's awake, But then, the one time they forget or are late, it will be a whole ordeal!!! Alarm clock would be fine.....
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Google "digital dementia day clock". There are a couple of models on Amazon that might suit.
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