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Author: Home Helpers Home Care

As the day winds down, seniors with dementia might experience some difficulty coping with that change. The behavior and mood issues they might experience are called sundowning because they correspond to the time of day when the sun is starting to go down for the day. Alzheimer’s care providers can help family members understand sundowning and how to help their aging adults with dementia cope with the situation.

What Is Sundowning in Dementia Patients?

Sundowning is a period of the day in which seniors with dementia are more likely to feel agitated, confused, or upset. Dementia already causes some of these feelings, but the extra disorientation with sundowning makes the situation a little more complicated. Not everyone with dementia experiences sundowning, and there are steps families can take that help to reduce sundowning symptoms.

Symptoms and Causes

The main symptoms of sundowning are primarily an increase in behaviors seniors with dementia might already experience, like increased cognitive difficulty, mood swings, confusion, and agitation. At the end of the day, seniors with dementia are tired and have been expending a lot of energy dealing with a variety of stimuli, like noise and cognitive load. They get tired, and the shifts that signal the end of the day can trigger sundowning behaviors. Being in an unfamiliar place or experiencing dramatic changes to routines at that time of day can also cause sundowning to be more of an issue. Physical discomfort, disruptions to their circadian rhythm, and time changes can also lead to sundowning.

Create Calm Afternoon and Evening Routines

Establishing calmer routines in the afternoon and evening can help quite a bit. Home care providers with experience helping seniors with dementia deal with challenges later in the day can make recommendations. Some ideas might be to play soft, calming music later in the afternoon or playing games that seniors find relaxing.

Adjust Light Exposure

Changes related to lighting late in the day seem to be tied to sundowning and how severe symptoms might be for seniors with dementia. Gradually adjusting lighting around the house during this time of day can reduce shadows and rapid changes in lighting that can be disorienting. Putting lights on a timer or using lighting that has built-in sensors that turn lights on when it’s darker outside can help.

Redirect and Distract

Sometimes what seniors with dementia need during sundowning episodes is something else to concentrate on. Alzheimer’s care providers can help with activities that both redirect and distract, like planning favorite meals or snacks for that time. This might also be the perfect time for favorite activities or a special television show that seniors enjoy. The more calming these activities are, the better.

Structured routines are usually helpful for seniors living with dementia, and Alzheimer’s care providers can work with families to determine what routines serve seniors the best. Adjusting these routines in small ways can help to manage issues that might arise, like sundowning, which improves quality of life for seniors with dementia and helps them to feel less overwhelmed in general.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s care in Munster, IN, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers Home Care of NW Indiana today at (219) 244-2533.

Home Helpers Home Care of NW Indiana provides exceptional home and facility care for seniors in Highland, Munster, Crown Point, Schererville, Dyer, Saint John, Valparaiso, Cedar Lake, Griffith, Lowell and the surrounding areas.