How to Keep Seniors with Alzheimer’s Disease Calm in the Evening

Evenings can bring increased confusion or agitation for seniors who live with Alzheimer’s disease. That confusion and agitation also make evenings more difficult for family caregivers to manage, often because they’re tired at the end of a long day. Alzheimer’s care providers can help families learn how to calm evenings down and ease into nighttime activities.

Change Lighting Gradually

As afternoon turns into evening, lighting changes outside and inside can contribute to anxiety and confusion for Alzheimer’s patients. Dimming the lights gradually or turning on lights before it’s fully dark outside eases that transition some. Home care providers can offer suggestions that can help, like plugging lamps into timers that turn lights on automatically.

Offer Familiar Routines

Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease tend to do better when they have familiar routines they can rely on every single day. These routines are comforting because they are predictable. Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease don’t have to guess or wonder what might happen next. Alzheimer’s care providers work with families to establish routines that work well for seniors, getting them easily from one task to another by the end of the day.

Reduce Noise and Activity

Too much noise and excessive activity just contribute to the anxiety and confusion that evenings often bring for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. Keeping the house calmer and quieter in the evening reduces overstimulation that can contribute to agitation. Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease are better able to focus when they aren’t filtering through dozens of stimuli.

Choose Calming Music

Music is calming for adults living with Alzheimer’s disease. Old favorite songs can do a lot to help seniors with Alzheimer’s to stay on target with their evening routines. Alzheimer’s care providers can even help families use music and playlists to cue different activities in the routines seniors use as they get ready for bed and wind down the day.

Lean on Comfort

One of the best ways to help seniors with Alzheimer’s disease avoid agitation in the evening is to lean into comfort. Comforting routines, foods they love, and activities they enjoy can all function as both a routine and something that reassures seniors. Keeping the evening cozy makes it easier for seniors to drift off to bed, hopefully sleeping through the night.

Don’t Try to Logic Through the Evening

Family caregivers often make the mistake of trying to use logic to get through to seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. This isn’t helpful at any time of the day, but it’s especially difficult in the evening, when confusion is higher. Insisting on reasoning with Alzheimer’s patients increases distress, making it even tougher to avoid altercations. Alzheimer’s care providers can help family members notice when they’re trying to use logic in situations that defy reason.

Evenings don’t have to be a nightmare for everyone when seniors have Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s care providers can help families adopt habits throughout the entire day that culminate in calmer, easier evenings for everyone. Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to get the rest they need, which helps set them up for a better day.

If you or an aging loved one is considering Alzheimer’s care in Sunnyvale, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers today (408) 317-4969.