6 Ways to Manage Sundowning With Dementia
Does your loved one have dementia or Alzheimer’s? Have you noticed in the late afternoons or evenings that they experience heightened confusion? This increase in heightened aggression, ignoring directions, anxiety, confusion, and behavioral changes is known as sundowning, and we have some tips for managing it.
1. Observe and Minimize Triggers
Keep an eye out for fatigue and other symptoms that seem to spur sundowning behaviors. Record sundowning episodes in a journal to see if there are any recurring times or triggers for your loved one to help prepare you for the next time it may occur.
2. Maintain Routines
Keeping to a familiar routine and avoiding as many surprises as possible will help keep your loved one calm. Plan activities during daylight hours, fit in regular time to go outside, and exercise regularly to soak up natural sunlight and fresh air. This will help set their internal body clock or circadian rhythm to release pent-up energy. If your loved one experiences sleep disturbances at night, maximize activity earlier in the day, reduce napping, and avoid challenging tasks later in the day.
3. Promote Healthy Sleeping Habits
A good daily routine includes going to bed on time every night to ensure a full night’s rest. Try to eliminate visual, physical, and auditory clutter in your loved one’s room to keep things calm and comfortable at night. You can put a night light in the bathroom and other places they might wander at night so they feel more comfortable navigating a familiar space. Early dinners will allow them to sleep better without stomach problems.
4. Remove Any Confusion
Ensure as much natural light fills the home during the day, then close all the light-blocking curtains and turn on lots of lights at night. This keeps away any hint of shadow or darkness that might confuse your loved one of the time and distress them. They also need an environment that feels safe and familiar to them, so whether they’re at home with you or in a memory care community, make sure there are plenty of home touches for familiarity.
5. Validate and Distract
Practice calm communication by validating your loved one’s feelings to indicate you are listening and redirecting their attention to things they like. Consider having them do simple tasks that make them feel involved, such as setting the table for dinner.
6. Limit Stimulation Late in the Day
As the afternoon and evening roll in, you’ll want to shut down sensory overstimulation. Reduce caffeine, alcohol, sugar, loud noise, or socializing to lower your chances of experiencing sundowning behaviors. Surround your loved one with familiar and comfortable things like the scent of lavender, their favorite chair, the music they enjoy, or a gentle touch.
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