Daily life with dementia is challenging, especially when seniors with dementia start to experience sundowning. This confusing symptom occurs in late afternoon or evening when people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease start to experience anxiety and agitation. Sundowning isn’t completely preventable, but dementia care providers can help seniors and family caregivers address some of the factors that make it worse.
Adjust Lighting
As the sun sets and natural light starts to change, seniors with dementia may become disoriented. This contributes to the confusion and agitation they experience. Turning lights on before it starts to get dark and keeping rooms well-lit into the evening can help reduce shadows and make the environment feel more consistent. Using timers to automatically adjust lighting can help, too.
Look at Sleep Habits
Good sleep hygiene helps seniors with dementia manage a variety of symptoms, including sundowning. Irregular sleep patterns or daytime naps that are too long can lead to evening restlessness. Maintaining consistent sleep and wake times can even all of that out. If seniors want to take naps anyway, shorter ones earlier in the day might be the answer. Soothing bedtime routines help to ease the transition to sleep.
Increase Activity Levels
Physical activity during the day can help seniors with dementia to use up some excess energy and might even help them to sleep better. Light exercise like walking or stretching might be all that’s necessary. Dementia care providers can help seniors with dementia find a time during the day to move a little more and avoid overdoing it.
Decrease Stimulation Later in the Day
A calm and soothing atmosphere in the afternoon and evening can also help with sundowning. Turning TVs and radios down and avoiding big transitions helps to reduce confusion. It might also be a good idea to schedule appointments and visits earlier in the day. Slowly dimming the lights, keeping noise down, and embracing soothing routines eases anxiety as the sun goes down.
Reduce Caffeine Intake
Too much caffeine affects moods and sleep quality, especially for seniors with dementia. Avoiding caffeinated beverages and foods later in the day makes a big difference. Alternatives like herbal teas and plain water help seniors to stay hydrated without adding stimulants that can backfire during sundowning. Dementia care providers can help track how different foods and drinks seem to affect moods and symptoms like sundowning so that adjustments can be made.
Address Basic Needs
Sometimes sundowning is worse because seniors with dementia have an unmet need. If they need the bathroom or are hungry, thirsty, or uncomfortable in some other way, the changes that come with late afternoon can be more jarring for them. Seniors with Alzheimer’s can have a difficult time communicating their needs, which is why experienced dementia care providers can be so helpful.
Sundowning can be incredibly stressful, but it can be managed. Dementia care providers have the experience to offer insights about what changes might help seniors with dementia the most. Over time, solid routines can make afternoons and evenings much calmer and more manageable.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Dementia Care Services in Great Neck, NY, please contact the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call (631) 424-7827
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Long Island and NYC, including Dix Hills, Floral Park, Great Neck, Huntington, Manhasset, Massapequa, Northport, Plainview, Rockville Center, Stony Brook, Suffolk County, Nassau County, and Queens County.
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