Everything You Need To Know About Sundowning, According To Elderly Assistance Professionals

If you or a loved one suffers from dementia, chances are that you’re familiar with the most serious symptoms. For more than 60% of seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, nighttime causes some of the most serious symptoms and issues. Behavioral problems that happen when the sun goes down and last late into the night are referred to as “sundowning.” According to the Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of this behavior is unknown.  Elderly Assistance experts say that being cognizant of the signs and symptoms of sundowning is the best way to help loved one who is dealing with it. Here are some of the biggest things to know when it comes to sundowning.

What are the symptoms of sundowning?

Elderly Assistance experts say that being cognizant of the signs and symptoms of sundowning is the best way to help loved one who is dealing with it.Elderly Assistance experts say to keep an eye out for a few specific symptoms:

• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Confusion
• Disorientation

If someone you are taking care of exhibits these symptoms, specifically at night, ask their doctor about sundowning and whether or not they’re suffering from it.

What are some contributing factors?

While there’s no way to avoid sundowning entirely, there are some contributing factors that could increase someone’s chance of dealing with it, according to elderly assistance experts.

• Tiredness
• Poor lighting
• Depression
• Hunger/thirst

If you suspect that a loved one is dealing with sundowning, be sure to tackle some of these contributing factors first as they could be making the side effects worse.

How to help someone suffering from sundowning

There are many ways to help alleviate symptoms of someone who is dealing with sundowning. Here are some of the best ways to do it, according to elderly assistance experts.

• Be calm: If a senior suffering from dementia senses any anger or agitation from you, they’re going to have a harder time managing their symptoms. Try to remain level-headed when talking with a loved one dealing with dementia.
• Predictability: Help your loved one develop a good routine so that they can stick to it and reduce the risk of being confused every night when they have to perform their nightly tasks.
• Lighting: One of the best ways to help someone who is dealing with sundowning is to make sure that they have good, effective lighting in their home. Consider LED lighting. It’s great for people with vision problems, especially if they are dealing with dementia.