If you’re someone providing home care for a dementia patient, you may have noticed that confusion, restlessness, and agitation among patients may get worse in the late afternoon and evening. This is what doctors refer to as “Sundowning” or “late-day confusion.”
A possible cause of sundowning in people with Alzheimer’s disease is disturbed sleep-wake cycles because of changes in their brain chemistry.
Some other possible causes may include fatigue, depression, unmet needs such as hunger or thirst, pain, and boredom.
To help a person suffering from sundowning, our caregivers providing our dementia program in Scottsdale, Arizona, suggests the following tips:
- Reduce the number of distractions, such as noise, clutter, and the number of individuals present.
- Make an effort to divert the person’s attention with a favorite snack, item, or pastime.
- Quiet time should be reserved for the early hours of the evening. Play relaxing music, read a book, or take a stroll to relax. Having a friend or family member call during this time is another option.
- At sunset, draw the curtains or close the blinds to reduce the number of shadows and the resulting confusion. Turn on the lights to reduce the number of shadows that are cast.
If you’re unable to handle these sundowning syndromes your loved one exhibit, you may benefit from our home care assistance in Arizona.
At Hearts For Dementia Home Care, we specialize in delivering expert senior home care in Tempe, AZ to support your loved ones in maintaining a quality lifestyle.