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I currently care for an otherwise sharp 94 year old man who always thinks its morning when its night time. He's so hard on himself when learns that its not 8am, but 8pm. He calls himself screwy, and asks me what's wrong with him. He'll ask me, "Why do i always get so screwed up?" I just tell him everyone forgets the time once in a while, or that because he just woke up from a nap he feels like he's just waking up in the morning. Anything i can say to comfort someone who KNOWS he dosen't know what's going on?

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mica

those clock sound great. I will see what I can find on the internet :-) thanks for the tip.
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JGWBRG and TSM1013

I think you guys are on to something! After reading your posts I remembered some days recently where he didn't nap in the afternoon, and his behavior was measurably better in the evenings and bedtime! This could be really cut. I am excited. I will limit his naps to early in the day and see if that continues to positively affect his evening time behavior. :)
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there are clocks they sell for just this thing. There is a sun and moon that go around the dial...
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My mom also gets all messed up after her afternoon nap....she cant distinguish dreams from reality, gets a second wind and spends the afternoon calling me over and over again. Her most recent issue is that she thinks someone is breaking into her house and stealing her phones...she simply misplaces them. Time for a regular landline phone, away with the cordless ones! But, I have definitely found that the afternoon naps seem to cause more harm then good, especially when paired with sundowning, which is not confusion over day and night but is an increase in confusion in the late afternoon.
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I think you are doing really well CaringCaryn! Sundowners can be a shocker!But you are 100% right about the nap putting him off his game. Naps can be incredibly disorientating for someone with dementia... especially if the person sleeps deeply! My Mum has the most bizarre delusions (and paranoia) just after waking up in the afternoon. Your responses are just fine though! You are doing a great job!!!
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You're welcome - it's really nice to know that a suggestion was helpful.

Charlton Heston was another conservative who had Alzheimers, as did Margaret Thatcher although I believe her dementia was caused by strokes.
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Thanks GardenArtist give a hug! Those are excellent suggestions! He's conservative so will love the reference to Regan! And regarding his other competencies, his sense of humor is still there...I will compliment him on things he still does well! Thanks so much
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Babalou i guess you are right. I just assumed Sundowners referred to folks who get their nights and days mixed up. But, he does have it otherwise, i think, because he'll be relatively good all day, then around supper time (5 on) he'll get super confused and do bizarre things. Last evening I found him stirring the wet cat food with his hands...all his life this guy was the biggest neat freak you could imagine...he even cut his toast w/knife and fork, rather than risk getting any butter on his fingers.
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Can you find other areas in which he's competent and/or skilled to complement him? I think the need not to feel inept is one which occurs when people realize they're losing some cognitive and/or physical skills, but if they can shift to areas in which they still do have competence, it can somewhat offset those skills that are not as strong any more.

Another thought is to name the people who have had other issues, such as those who've had Alzheimers yet still managed to function, Reagan for example. Even though he had Nancy and advisors, I can't imagine that it was easy to still be President when he was losing cognizance.
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Maybe I'm wrong about this, but i don't think sundowning refers to folks who get the am and pm confused. Sundowningvrefrrs to folks who get delusional and crazy late inbthe afteroon, when they are relatively normal the rest of of the day.

With regard to your client, gowcabout " you have a problem with your brain circuits; it makes yiur mind play tricjs on you"? Would that work?
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