Sunsets are a sight to behold for others because they bring us a sense of peace and quiet. However, for senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, this time of day might be tough.
Sundowning is not a sickness, but rather a collection of symptoms that occur at a given time of day and can impact persons with dementia. One proposed explanation for sundowning is that Alzheimer’s-related brain alterations might disrupt a person’s “biological clock,” resulting in irregular sleep-wake cycles.
Sundowning can also be caused by exhaustion, unmet needs such as hunger or thirst, pain, despair, or boredom.
A person with this syndrome exhibits heightened confusion or anxiety, as well as behaviors such as pacing, wandering, or yelling. To deal with it, the home care provider must try to figure out what is causing the person’s behavior.
If the Alzheimer’s patient grows irritated, quietly listen to his or her concerns and frustrations. Attempt to convince the person that everything is fine and divert his or her attention away from stressful or distressing circumstances.
To avoid sundowning, our expert professionals providing in-home dementia care in Maryland advise caregivers to keep their patients from becoming overly tired by providing adequate rest, exposing them to bright light, and allowing them to engage in sufficient physical activities.
Our mission at Home Care Plus, a licensed home care provider in Baltimore, Maryland, is to raise awareness about these types of occurrences that our loved ones face.
Families in need of in-home care in Maryland can reach us at 410-814-0120, and we will gladly assist you.
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