It’s a condition relative to dementia/Alzheimer’s. People who Sundown become very confused during the transition of day to night. It manifests itself in different behaviors for everyone. My mom had no concept of day or night. She wound up pulling down the shade in her room so she was less confused. She understood the time but not whether it was AM or PM. People can become anxious and act out. There are medications that can help.
Marystj, for my Dad with his sundowning, he would get into his time machine and transport himself back to the 1940's.
Dad would call me from his senior housing saying he won't be home for dinner because the business meeting ran over-time and he missed the last bus to come home... so he will stay at the nice hotel.
Well, the last time Dad took a bus to work was back in the 1940's when he lived in a rooming house, and the hotel he was referring was his room at Assisted Living. For me it was easy to just play along. Thankfully Dad sundowning was manageable.
Sundowning can happen as early as mid-afternoon for some folks, others it can be bothersome when it actually become dark outside. With "standard time" changing changing here in the States on November 4th, it will be interesting to see what happens for those seniors who are new to sundowning.
My mother will pack her things and insist I pick her up from the nursing home. She is ready to go! She called 911 once and reported elder abuse because they wouldn’t let her leave. She didn’t remember a thing the next day until it was later in the evening then she’d pack up again. Sundowners seems to make her miserable wherever she is! It made her very angry and annoyed. Accusing me of stealing her money calling 911 to report me. Very confrontational with everyone - fighting and threatening roommates (she’s had 8). Constantly accusing staff of stealing her meds and threatening to have them fired. Just a very high anxiety level. Sundowners for her has been rough-never feeling home. She is doing much better now that she is moved to a facility that keeps her busy. She’s a few hours away and knows I can’t come get her every night. The facility knows how to deal with typical to Alzheimer’s behavior without calling me everyday. She even has a gentleman that’s her boyfriend.
Dad would call me from his senior housing saying he won't be home for dinner because the business meeting ran over-time and he missed the last bus to come home... so he will stay at the nice hotel.
Well, the last time Dad took a bus to work was back in the 1940's when he lived in a rooming house, and the hotel he was referring was his room at Assisted Living. For me it was easy to just play along. Thankfully Dad sundowning was manageable.
Sundowning can happen as early as mid-afternoon for some folks, others it can be bothersome when it actually become dark outside. With "standard time" changing changing here in the States on November 4th, it will be interesting to see what happens for those seniors who are new to sundowning.
Sundowners for her has been rough-never feeling home.
She is doing much better now that she is moved to a facility that keeps her busy. She’s a few hours away and knows I can’t come get her every night. The facility knows how to deal with typical to Alzheimer’s behavior without calling me everyday. She even has a gentleman that’s her boyfriend.