How Can Alzheimer’s Care from Visiting Angels Denver Help Seniors Manage Sundowner’s Syndrome?

Our Alzheimer’s care services help seniors in Wheat Ridge, Denver, Golden and surrounding Colorado communities manage sundowning episodes with compassionate, one-on-one home care

Having a loved one who is living with Alzheimer’s can be a challenge for the entire family. According to the Mayo Clinic, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia and its most common symptoms include memory loss, confusion and disorientation and difficulty communicating, reasoning and handling complex tasks.

Alzheimer’s can cause different symptoms at different times of the day. Sundowner’s Syndrome, which occurs in the evening, can be very difficult to manage. Visiting Angels Denver can help. We provide Alzheimer’s care which includes behavior modification to help manage Sundowner’s Syndrome.

What is Sundowner’s Syndrome?

Sundowner’s Syndrome is also known as sundown syndrome or sundowning. It is a change in behavior, temperament or personality that occurs in the late afternoon or early evening. According to WebMD, one out of five people with Alzheimer’s disease suffers from sundown syndrome.

Doctors are unsure what causes sundowning behavior, but some suspected causes include sensory stimulation overload, a hormone imbalance which affects the sleep-wake cycle, anxiety or fatigue.

Some behaviors and emotions that may arise during an episode of sundowning include:

• Anger
• Agitation, restlessness
• Anxiety
• Confusion
• Depression
• Fear
• Stubbornness
• Rocking
• Delusions, hallucinations
• Hiding things
• Paranoia
• Violence
• Insomnia
• Yelling, screaming, or crying
• Shadowing
• Wandering or pacing

These behaviors can become progressively worse and can range from a short time to the entire night. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, call on Visiting Angels Denver for help.

How Can Professional Alzheimer’s Care Help My Loved One?

As one of the community’s leading providers of Alzheimer’s care, Visiting Angels Denver can help your loved one manage sundowning symptoms right in their own home. Our caregivers receive extensive training in providing Alzheimer’s home care services that help them understand that flexibility and empathy are essential to helping seniors feel at ease.

Here’s how Visiting Angels Denver can help your loved one:

• Notice triggers. What events or activities cause their behavior to change? Does the evening news agitate your loved one? Is the late afternoon busy with activity in your home? Interruptions to the daily routine and nutrition can cause poor behavior. Our home care providers can help your loved one stick to routines and limit caffeine, sugar and alcohol consumption by preparing healthy meals and snacks.
• Use distractions. We can add activities, music or television to your loved one’s everyday routine to soothe them. Diverting their attention from troubling thoughts and comforting them with the familiar things they love can help manage sundowning episodes.
• Increase lighting. In addition to natural light, the use of bright lights in the room will reduce evening shadows and maintain the daytime glow until it is time for bed.
• Darken their sleep environment. Our caregivers can make sure their bedroom is welcoming and serene. Light-blocking curtains can create a cocoon-like setting that encourages a restful night’s sleep.
• Consult their doctor. If your loved one’s symptoms start to worsen, our caregivers will keep you in the loop and may recommend speaking to their doctor. Some doctors recommend anti-anxiety medication, anti-depressants, or over-the-counter vitamin supplements. Use caution; the doctor should confirm there is no interaction with prescribed medications.

When it comes to Sundowner’s Syndrome, every person is different. That’s why at Visiting Angels Denver, all of our care plans are personalized for every senior in our care. When you choose us to be your partner in Alzheimer’s care, you’re choosing a home care agency that will put your loved one’s needs first and provide the personalized, one-on-one support they need to continue living out their golden years at home safely and comfortably.

For more information on how our caregivers can help your loved one, call our Wheat Ridge, CO office at 303-990-8148.

Visiting Angels provides personalized Alzheimer’s care and other in-home care services for seniors in Arvada, Aurora, Denver, Glendale, Golden, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and the surrounding areas of Colorado.