Have you noticed that your mom or dad, who has Alzheimer’s, seems to start fading late in the afternoon? Do they have symptoms like being irritable, more confused than usual, or being belligerent? That could be caused by sundowning.
Sundowning is a medical condition that frequently happens to seniors with Alzheimer’s. Doctors aren’t really sure why it happens. Some doctors think that one of the ways that Alzheimer’s affects the brain can change the body’s biological clock, so your mom or dad could be getting tired because their brain is telling them it’s time for bed.
If your mom or dad can’t recognize their own body cues anymore, then they also could start sundowning because they are hungry, thirsty, in pain, need to use the bathroom, have a headache, or have some other physical need that is not being met.
Sundowning can be tough on family caregivers because it occurs at the end of the day and into the evening, which is usually when caregivers are exhausted and running on empty emotionally.
But there are some things you can do to make sundowning less stressful, like:
Get Alzheimer’s Home Care
Alzheimer’s home care can be respite care for you and provide better support for your mom or dad. Alzheimer’s home care is specialty care for seniors with Alzheimer’s. The care providers who work with seniors who have Alzheimer’s have experience and training using methods created to communicate effectively with seniors who have Alzheimer’s. Even getting Alzheimer’s home care for your senior parent can take the pressure off of you at the end of the day.
Set A Routine
Create a bedtime for your senior parent and stick to it. Having a consistent bedtime routine where they wind down for the night and a consistent bedtime will help seniors reset their Circadian rhythm, or their internal clock, so they get tired at the same time each night.
By having a consistent bedtime routine, your senior parent may be able to stop sundowning, or at least lessen the symptoms, because they aren’t getting tired as early in the day.
Make Mealtimes Consistent
Another way to lessen the symptoms of sundowning is to make sure that your senior parent’s needs are getting met. Seniors with Alzheimer’s thrive when they have a strong routine. If you or Alzheimer’s home care providers serve meals at set times of the day, you can’t change those times. Your mom or dad will get hungry at those times every day because that is when they are used to eating.
Getting in the habit of giving your mom or dad a light snack around 4 PM can ensure that they aren’t hungry or thirsty in the late afternoon. That can eliminate one of the potential causes of sundowning for them.
Do Calming Activities At Night
If your mom or dad gets agitated at night, you or Alzheimer’s home care providers can try calming activities with them. Listening to soothing music, watching soothing videos, drawing, or doing puzzles can all help your senior parent relax and be less aggressive or agitated at night.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Bozeman, MT, please contact the caring staff at Qualicare MT today at (406) 551-6700
Qualicare MT Provides Exceptional Home Care in Bozeman, Belgrade, Livingston, Three Forks, Manhattan, and surrounding areas.
Sources:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/sundowning/faq-20058511#:~:text=The%20term%20%22sundowning%22%20refers%20to,Sundowning%20isn%27t%20a%20disease.
- https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-changes-behavior-and-communication/tips-coping-sundowning
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