Your parents were fine in the morning. They had breakfast and watched television. The day changed suddenly when the clock struck late afternoon. Your parents display restlessness and unexplained anxiety. The symptoms you describe match the condition called sundowning, which your parent currently exhibits. 

At Circle of Hope - Aged Care Services, families using Home Care Packages Old Guildford Sydney often contact us about this issue.

Here’s what you need to know.

What Exactly Is Sundowning?

It occurs when seniors with dementia experience both restlessness and emotional turmoil. Experts have attributed sundowning to changes that occur in the brain, affecting the body’s internal clock. 

Hence, it is difficult for the body to differentiate between day and night. Sundowning is experienced by seniors, especially in the late stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia. The experience is not limited to the senior but is also felt by the caregiver.

What Causes Sundowning?

There are several causes of sundowning: 

  • Fatigue experienced by seniors throughout the day and by late afternoon is at its highest. This causes a reduction in the ability of a senior to process what is going on. 
  • The dim lighting conditions and shadowy areas at dusk create difficulties for seniors. 
  • The physical needs of a senior citizen, which include hunger or pain, remain unfulfilled. 
  • Sundowning occurs because of disrupted sleep patterns and the presence of dementia.

Symptoms to Watch For

Every individual faces different symptoms: 

  • Pacing
  • Wandering
  • Revolting
  • Crying for no apparent reason
  • Fear
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Sleepless nights

Nights are tough for the whole family when their seniors are having trouble. Families receiving Home Care Packages Old Guildford tell us that nights are the most draining time for them. 

Coping Strategies That Actually Help

We suggest the following strategies to deal with sundowning at home: 

  1. Maintaining a fixed routine - The first strategy requires you to create fixed wake-up times, meals, and bedtime times for your loved one. A confused brain finds a daily routine reassuring.
  2. Maximise exposure to daylight - Have your loved one sit near a window or go outside during the day. Some doctors recommend Bright light therapy, which is also available in our Home Care Packages Old Guildford. The schedule requires them to wake up at the same time throughout each day. 
  3. Decrease evening impulse levels: The process needs you to decrease evening stimulation levels by reducing noise, light, and other activities that create disorder.
  4. Monitor what they are eating and drinking – Those who follow our Home Care Package Old Guildford Sydney, we suggest that they remove caffeine from their food and drinks and avoid heavy meals in the late afternoon. Give them a snack that they already know. 
  5. Stay calm when they get upset - Refrain from arguing and correcting them. The person needs to receive comfort through an object, which should be something they already know, or through music, which they already know. Staying calm can greatly reduce their stress levels.
  6. Consult their doctor - Sundowning can be treated with melatonin therapy. It is best to consult a medical expert regarding medical treatment or therapy.

How Circle of Hope Can Assist

At Circle of Hope, we provide dementia-trained carers as part of our Home Care Package Old Guildford Sydney. We are aware of sundowning symptoms and can help in the most challenging time of the day. We match our carers according to personality, speech, and experience in dealing with dementia sufferers so that your elderly can be with a familiar face.