The more clearly you understand the nature of sundowning, from its possible causes and symptoms to methods for coping with the problem, the more easily you can provide your senior loved one a higher quality of life during this challenging period. Take a look at some frequently asked questions about sundowning.
What Does Sundowning Involve?
Sundowning involves an increase in dementia symptoms that starts late in the afternoon and spills into the nighttime hours. A senior with dementia who experiences sundowning may seem especially forgetful, anxious, aggressive, confused, or inattentive to instructions during these hours of the day and evening.
This temporary worsening of dementia symptoms usually follows a predictable daily pattern. Sundowning usually begins in the middle or later stages of dementia's progression, with daily bouts of the problem occurring for months at a time.
Why Do Dementia Sufferers Experience Sundowning?
Medical science has yet to figure out exactly why many dementia sufferers experience sundowning. The most obvious cause would involve changes in the brain that interfere with the normal biological sleep-wake cycle. However, this disruption of the biological clock may only serve as one possible cause among many.
A variety of conditions and influences can trigger or aggravate sundowning. Examples include unusual fatigue, sleep problems, too much or too little illumination in the home, underlying mood disorders, physical pain, boredom, household noise, and certain medications.
How Can Household Habits and Practices Control Sundowning?
Changes to your senior loved one's daily household routine may help reduce sundowning. For example, you can encourage your senior to sit near a sunny window to reinforce a sense of day and night. If your senior naps during the day, try to keep those naps from turning into marathon sleep sessions.
Because stimulants and depressants can both affect sundowning for the worse, avoid serving coffee or alcoholic beverages to your senior loved one. While a certain amount of regular physical activity can prove helpful, leave plenty of quiet, restful time in the day as well. You don't want to overtire your loved one.
Keep in mind that loud noises can frighten, agitate, or otherwise overstimulate someone who struggles with sundowning. Avoid unnecessary household noises, and keep the TV volume at a reasonable level. Consider turning the TV off completely in the evenings.
Unfamiliar environments can promote sundowning. For this reason, surround your senior loved one with family photos and other familiar favorite objects when the senior must spend time in a new place. Instead of allowing your senior to wake up disoriented in total darkness, keep a night light in the bedroom.
What Medical Sundowning Treatment Options Should You Consider?
Your senior loved one's doctor may recommend medical treatment to help reduce or manage sundowning. First and foremost, the doctor will want to determine whether the symptoms actually indicate delirium. A head injury, stroke, urinary tract infection, head injury, heart condition, or blood sugar problem can cause delirium.
Once your doctor has eliminated other possible causes of the symptoms, your loved one may receive prescriptions for medications and supplements. Options may include drugs that support cognitive function, supplements such as melatonin to stabilize sleep patterns, and medications to treat mood disorders.
If you need help providing your sundowning senior with the right degree of medical or non-medical home care,
contact
A Visiting Redi Nurse. Our compassionate, skilled in-home nursing and caregiving staff can ease your burden during those challenging hours while ensuring the highest standard of care for your loved one.
