Is there a specific time for Sundowner symptoms to appear?

Knoturs, our experience with Sundowners was that it occurred literally around the time the sun went down. I thought the change in light had something to do with it, but maybe it's just their waking hours. However, we found that his disorientation started much earlier in the winter and he has done better in summer evenings, in general. In our case, it meant confusion in general but especially about what time of day it was, and then also increased clinginess with several (anywhere from 2-8) calls an hour till he went to bed. There are probably different ways it can manifest and you will probably get lots of replies, but our experience was closer to what your understanding of it was.

Some people with dementia do spend a lot of time up at night. Ours would get up often to use the restroom but then as the dementia progressed, he would rifle through drawers, etc. Now he is in a nursing home and they are giving him melatonin to assist with sleeping.

Before anything else, I would look at his medication list and google all the drugs -- see if any have agitation or insomnia as side effects. Otherwise, unfortunately it might be part of the dementia. Oh, also if this is a new behavior, does he have UTI symptoms? Ours got very agitated when he had a UTI.

His dr might be able to prescribe something to assist with sleeping but you have to watch side effects for those too.

I am sorry he is being so vicious toward you. That kind of nastiness is very hurtful; even if he doesn't "mean" it, it hurts to hear.

I wish you luck with this. It is really difficult when you are doing an exhausting job, then cannot sleep at night on top of it!

I have noticed that it really starts about 4pm. His attitude is more effected by how much (or little) attention he feels he is getting.

dad has always been rather selfish....its always had to be about him. But, since Mom had a stroke she has in home therapy every day. The final therapy each day is at 5 pm. By then he is usually ranting and saying nasty things about people..just loud enough to be heard. But, I think he never gets really horrible until the strangers are out of the house. So this has to tell you...he is aware of how unacceptable his behavior is....at least he knows it at some level.

Today has been the worst here. I think this was because I took Mom out to get a Flu shot. When we got back (about 3pm) he was in "full sundown".

I know how hard it is to deal with this. You have my great sympathy! Try to remember, this is not the person of your Dad....his brain is so distorted that it just isn't really him. I have to remind myself all the time to not argue with him...agree and go on about what You need to do. When he calls you nasty names, just pretend this is some tape recording and has nothing to do with you.

I would draw the line at throwing things. Whatever he throws...disappears forever. Tell him you will remove anything he throws..and then do it. As his environment becomes more and more empty, the threat will be enough to stop him. I have done this myself. Now, I just say to him. "Remember, you throw it, you lose it" and he stops. Calls me another name, but stops throwing.

Do something special for yourself....come here anytime if you need to bend an ear!

Knoturs, call APS and cut him loose. Or call 911 during one of his fits, tell the paramedics he needs to be admitted for medical and nerological evaluation, and do not sign for his discharge or pick him up. (Are you living in his house?? I can't figure out how things escaalted so much with a non-relative.....)

I'm sure you had -- and still have -- good intentions. But this is all too much. You're not safe. He's not safe. It is not wrong or a failure to make him a ward of the state, if he has no family. (Or no interested family, which is sometimes the case.)

His needs exceed any one layperson's capability. Even a rotation of laypeople are not a match for his issues. It's time for professionals to take over. You did right by him for as long as it was feasible and then some. It's time for you to get your life back.

I agree with the previous posters that this is way to much for one person and a threat to your safety. My Mom's sundowning was starting around 6 pm but now seems like 4 pm. Maybe because the days are getting shorter. It's just like a switch flips and you can see the agitation ramping up. But the middle of the night insanity I can relate to also. In my Moms case it's due to psychosis of Parkinsons. She pulls everything out of the drawers, cupboards, freezer and walks around with any sharp object she can find. The last time the police were out they were very direct with me that we HAD to keep working with her Dr to get this controlled with meds. It's not a perfect science as we all know! How often do we feel we could use a tranquilizer dart?? Kidding of course but I'd like to hear anyone who knows how to get a dementia patient to sleep at night.

My 96 year old mother had to be hospitalized a couple of months ago. I had to run home to get her insurance cards. While I was gone, she went wild, slugging the nurses with her fists, kicking at them with her legs, screaming, cursing (which she had never done in her life). When I got back to the hospital, the nursing staff met me in the hall, describing her behavior. When I went in her room, she hit me with her fist and kept trying to kick people. She talked to me like I was a dog. It took four of us (2 males), a nurse and me to subdue her to the point that they could give her a sedative, then put restrains on her arms. Truly the most horrific experience I have gone through, so far. I think the aid that went in her room, when she was trying to get out of the bed, made her mad. Now I live with the thought in mind that this type behavior could happen again, and it scares me half to death. Mother had never hit anybody before, nor curses. Have any of you had this experience?

Yes, its time for a major intervention from APS! Soon, he will be hurting you, and you can't have that! He's not related to you, so does he have any family around? There must be someone who can help you! Get out, and get him some help, but you must save yourself first!

Sundowners can appear as early at 11:00 A.M. or as late as 12 hours later-11:00 P.M.!

I am retired now but worked for close to 20 years in a skilled nursing facility. It is my experience that agitation, or sundowning cycles, can start at any time. It is most common at dusk, though. I believe that sundowning is sometimes triggered by the coming darkness and the change in perceptions that it causes the dementia sufferer. Familiar objects can look foreign or scary or may not be able to be seen at all. Also, in my experience, persons with dementia can get their days and nights reversed--staying up all night but sleeping all day.

my mother sleeps late, then naps in the afternoon. when she wakes up she is disoriented and very confused for a few hours after. She isn't violent but has started to call me to say she has had a big argument with my dad, that he has left her (he hasn't) or that she has left (she hasn't, the caller ID is home phone) etc. Is this sundowning?

carolswilliams,
What was she being hospitalized for? Often an older person will have a change in mental status ( behave in a way not usual for them) when they have a urinary tract infection (UTI). This different behavior can manifest in someone being very nasty or combative. Can you give a bit more information about her diagnosis? Does she have any other diagnoses that may contribute to this behavior? ( such as dementia, or Parkinson's Disease?) Is she on any new medicines? People will have hallucinations with some illnesses, medications or in new surroundings. . People can get hallucinations and see others as trying to hurt them- even if they know the person very well. This is also not uncommon after anesthesia for an older person.
Please elaborate on her situation .