Sadness, agitation, fear, pacing, rocking and mood changes that occur around sunset are known as Sundowner's Syndrome. To manage sundowning:
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Establish a routine by trying to do the same things every evening at about the same time, so the person with Alzheimer's knows what to expect.
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Create a Quiet Setting
Prevent excessive noise and provide an area of privacy away from family activity and other distractions.
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Structure Afternoon Activities
Plan activities and entertainment later in the day to re-direct the person's anxiety.
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Use Distractions
If you see agitation starting, try to re-direct the person's attention to a non-threatening object or person.
Sleep Problems
Sleep problems are another problem among people who have Alzheimer's disease.
For the exhausted caregiver, sleep can't come too soon. For many aging parents with Alzheimer's Disease or dementia, however, the approach of nighttime may be a difficult time. Getting the person to go to bed and stay there may require some advance planning.
- Encourage exercise during the day and limit daytime napping, but make sure that the person gets adequate rest during the day because fatigue can increase the likelihood of late afternoon restlessness.
- Try to schedule more physically demanding activities earlier in the day. For example, bathing could be earlier in the morning, or large family meals could be at midday.
- Set a quiet, peaceful tone in the evening to encourage sleep. Keep the lights dim, eliminate loud noises, even play soothing music if the person seems to enjoy it.
- Try to keep bedtime at a similar time each evening. Developing a bedtime routine may help.
- Restrict access to caffeine late in the day.
- Use night lights in the bedroom, hall, and bathroom if the darkness is frightening or disorienting.