Husband currently is in a memory care facility. He has become agitated and has sundowners. Is in home care the answer?

TuTu, No. Home care would not stop the behaviors that you are seeing.

Work with his doctors to find something that helps calm him down.

Hugs! Such a trying time and damnable disease.

Fine tuning medications is much more easily done at his memory care facility by his team of professional caregivers than in your home. His medications need to be adjusted. If he's not already on a sedative to control his agitation, then it's time to discuss which one to try. Sedatives are a kind and gentle way to keep our loved ones from hurting themselves and others brought about by agitation. Remember that just because a medication is added does not mean he will need it forever. The team will start with a low dose and taper until he's comfortable, not catatonic.

Why do you think in-home care might be the answer? What do you think the advantages could be, if you compare it with what the memory care facility provides?

It pains me to say so, but the answer could depend to some extent on how much money you have. It might technically be possible to hire equally well-qualified professionals to provide one-to-one care in your home, but the cost would be astronomical and then you still have to consider the level of responsibility such an arrangement would place on your shoulders.

Are you generally happy with the standard of care provided by his current facility? Is there anything about the way they are managing his needs that you're concerned about?

Ditto to every post that answered "no". I'm so sorry as I'm sure this is very painful to "stand by" and watch this go on. You've done everything right to this point but bringing him home would be a disaster for both of you. Have peace with your decision...the community here has confirmed it was the correct path. As stated by the others, let his care team handle it -- they are the experts and can provide the proper help.

I'm not clear as to why you would be considering this after making the decision it was time for MC, are you thinking moving him back home might help with his sun downing? I can assure you it wont, it's part of the decline, the disease process. Sometimes symptoms seem to get worse or pop up when a big change is made and maybe the move accelerates them maybe it's just timing, after all it was time for the LO to move into MC for a reason so it stands to reason the disease is progressing and maybe your timing was simply spot on, whatever the reason he is in exactly the right place to deal best with the sun downing and any other new symptoms as they present don't second guess yourself you have done the right and I know hard thing, the best thing for him and for you. If someone else suggested moving him home for some reason make sure you are understanding the reasoning and get more opinions, I can't imagine why a professional with dementia experience would ever suggest this but perhaps it's a well meaning, although way off base and un-involved, inexperienced, family member who has suggested this?

Get the geriatric psychiatrist at the Memory Care facility involved in finding the right meds for his Sundowning.

No way, let him be. This is part of his disease, let the clinical team deal with him.

No. No. No. Just, no. In home care is not the answer. Unless you want to be chronically sleep deprived and never have a free minute to call your own. In memory care there is staff trained to help him. The night shift has had their sleep before coming to work. He can be prescribed something to help with agitation if it becomes necessary.

Visit him during the day as you can and love him for himself. Then leave him in the care of the staff and love yourself enough to know you are doing the right thing for both of you!

Hugs & prayers for you!