| People with various forms of dementia including | | | | easier to deal with if you know the basics of the |
| Alzheimer's disease are often found to be at their | | | | syndrome and what to look for. Also, if you have |
| emotional best at earlier points in the day. | | | | a patient that is experiencing sundowning, |
| Caretakers often report that as the day | | | | scheduling outings early in the day may be a big |
| progresses the patient's memory and emotional | | | | part of eliminating a lot of the frustration. If the |
| well-being deteriorate, this is often referred to as | | | | patient has some of the classic symptoms of |
| "sundowning". | | | | sundowning such as agitation, confusion and |
| Some of the symptoms of sundowning are an | | | | becoming argumentative, you can avoid a lot of |
| increase in the agitation levels of the patient as | | | | confrontations by not taking them out after the |
| well as the loss of abilities to comprehend, | | | | early afternoon. |
| perform certain tasks and other functions that | | | | Also, rule out other causes of suddenly acting out |
| the patient may have had little to no difficulty | | | | or severe agitation. Make sure that your patient |
| with earlier in the day. Confusion and anger are | | | | isn't having issues with any kind of discomfort, |
| also common reactions by patients that can | | | | bothered by noises or lights or having pain. |
| realize in the earlier stages of dementia and | | | | Sometimes dementia and Alzheimer's sufferers |
| Alzheimer's that something is amiss but they can't | | | | have difficulty vocalizing their physical discomfort |
| quite put their finger on exactly what. Inability to | | | | and may act out instead. |
| sleep and restlessness are also common with | | | | Don't assume because you have a patient that |
| sundowning. | | | | paces, cries and is angry at night that he or she is |
| Sundowning can occur in any level of dementia or | | | | experiencing the effects of sundowning. On the |
| Alzheimer's and seems to be more severe in the | | | | contrary, these outbursts may be due to a very |
| moderate stages of these conditions. There is | | | | real physical problem that is causing discomfort in |
| some scientific evidence to support the theory | | | | some form to the patient. Make sure and you |
| that Alzheimer's causes severe damage to the | | | | address physical comforts before you assign a |
| parts of the brain that control the internal clock of | | | | label of sundowning to the behavior of your |
| body and the normal urges to sleep when tired | | | | patient. |
| and awake when rested are forever set off | | | | Lighting can also be an issue with some patients. |
| balance. | | | | Try softening the lighting and you might just see |
| Sundowning can make both the caregiver and | | | | a similar softening in their moods. Also, soft music |
| patient wear down as anyone caring for a patient | | | | makes many dementia and Alzheimer's patients |
| with dementia or Alzheimer's can attest to. It is | | | | feel safer and more secure. Also, many patients |
| exhausting and neither the patient nor the | | | | "feed" off the emotional states of others and if |
| caregiver may be at their emotional best at the | | | | lose your composure after a frustrating day, the |
| end of the day. It's human nature to lose your | | | | patient may mirror your frustration and it will |
| patience and it is also human nature to be | | | | increase their agitation directed right back at you. |
| frustrated with a patient that it is difficult to | | | | It's a good rule of thumb to take a deep breath |
| reason with due to both their condition and their | | | | and remember that patients with dementia and |
| increased agitation. | | | | Alzheimer's do not have control over their |
| Caregivers can benefit greatly from just taking a | | | | conditions or their emotions for the greater part |
| little time for themselves, especially if they have | | | | of the time. Each patient will need to be dealt with |
| someone in their care that is experiencing | | | | in a different way to handle their sundowning, as |
| sundowning on a regular basis. Just having a friend | | | | each patient will need to be addressed in different |
| or someone responsible that is willing to act as a | | | | ways. Keeping a journal of outbursts, sundowning |
| caregiver for a couple of hours while the regular | | | | symptoms and the ways they were successfully |
| caregiver has a meal in a restaurant or catches a | | | | handled is a great way to see what methods |
| movie will make a world of difference and in | | | | work and what does not. |
| many cases, many dementia and Alzheimer's | | | | Caring for a patient with dementia or Alzheimer's |
| patients also react favorably to someone new to | | | | can be a frustrating, rewarding and enriching |
| talk to or be with for a short time. | | | | experience. Knowing some of the nuances that |
| Knowing the basics of sundowning can make | | | | may be experienced in caring for a patient will |
| caring for a dementia or Alzheimer's patient that | | | | make the process a lot easier for everyone |
| is experiencing this frustrating symptom a lot | | | | involved. |