Sundowning and Dementia: Right at Home of Central New Jersey Wants to Help You Learn How to Manage the Signs and Symptoms

What Is Sundowning?

Some individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia can experience heightened symptoms of confusion in late afternoon and evening. This group of symptoms is called sundown syndrome or, simply, sundowning. Sundowning can present with a variety of behaviors from anxiety and confusion to aggression and a refusal to comply with directions and requests. Some people with sundowning may also pace and wander.

Sundowning is not classified as a disease but as a group of symptoms occurring later in the day. Although medical researchers are studying sundowning, the exact cause of the behaviors is still unknown. Fading light seems to be a trigger, and the elevated symptoms usually lessen by morning.

Does Sundowning Worsen in Winter?

As the days get shorter, sundowning can be more of an issue. If your loved one is already experiencing sundowning symptoms, they will likely get worse during this season. Everything gets more confusing for people with dementia when daylight is lost.

What Are Sundowning Symptoms?

When someone with dementia is sundowning…

They may be:

·     Disoriented

·     Agitated (upset or anxious)

·     Restless

·     Confused

·     Demanding

·     Irritable

·     Suspicious

They may:

·     Yell

·     Hit

·     Pace

·     Appear paranoid

·     Exhibit severe mood swings

How Do I Manage Sundowning?

Although you may not be able to stop your loved one’s sundowning symptoms completely, you can take action to help manage this challenging time of day (so you both sleep better and function better during the day). Also, let your loved one’s doctor know what changes you have witnessed. Try the following:

·      Let there be light! Some studies suggest light therapy may reduce agitation and confusion in people with dementia. Consider placing a full-spectrum fluorescent light a few feet away from your loved one for a couple of hours each morning.

·     Keep a daily routine. Set regular times for waking up, meals and going to sleep. Try to schedule appointments, outings, visits and bath/shower time in the earlier part of the day.

·     Limit or avoid things that affect sleep such as:

·     Making sure sweets and caffeine are consumed by late morning.

·     Discouraging your loved from smoking and drinking alcohol.

·     Having lunch be the larger meal and keeping the evening meal smaller and simpler.

·     Avoid letting your loved one nap or exercise later than four hours before bedtime. If a nap is necessary, try to keep it short and early in the day.

·     Track behavior. Each person has different triggers for sundowning. To help identify your loved one’s triggers, use a journal or smartphone app to track his/her daily activities, environments, people engaged with, and behaviors. Look for patterns to learn which activities and environments seem to make symptoms worse. Once you identify these triggers, it will be easier to avoid or minimize situations that promote agitation and confusion.

·     Keep things calm in the evening by:

·     Making the room temperature comfortable for your loved one.

·     Closing curtains and blinds, and turning on lights. Darkness and shadows cause more symptoms/behaviors.

·     Asking other family members and friends to decrease noise.

·     Playing relaxing music, reading, playing cards or going for a walk to help your loved one wind down.

Lastly, make sure you take care of yourself. The more rested and relaxed you are, the more likely it is that your loved will take your cue and relax, too.

Right at Home of Central New Jersey, through our Right Alzheimer’s Disease Specialty Program, can help our clients and their families manage the symptoms and signs of sundowning and dementia. As Alzheimer’s progresses, people suffering from it may experience memory loss, getting lost in a familiar place, decreased or poor judgment, mood changes, and difficulty managing routine tasks. Because this can lead to your family member not recognizing you or being a wander risk, we can provide 24/7 care by our caring and trained caregivers for your loved one to ensure they remain safe at home. Knowing that your family member is with someone round-the-clock can alleviate stress and worry for you and other members of your family.

Please call Beth Sholom, Owner/Executive Director of Right at Home of Central New Jersey to let us know how we can help you. We provide care from a few hours a day to overnight shifts to live-in care. We'll work with you to come up with the best plan for your family and always be available 24/7 to help. We care for your family as we would for our own! 

About Right at Home of Central New Jersey – Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. The Right at Home of Central New Jersey office is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., serving the communities of Middlesex and Northern Monmouth Counties.

For more information, contact Right at Home of Central New Jersey at  http://www.rightathome.net/monmouth-middlesex/, 732-967-0900 or by email at beth@rahcentral.com.

(This article was written and originally published on CaringNews.com by Dr. Diane Darby Beach).

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