This time of year sundowning is very troublesome. There is no sure fire way to address it but increasing light and reducing shadows can help. Replacing incandescent lighting with flourescent can provide a more natural light and reduce shadows. Leaving the lights on until she goes to sleep may also help.
In the spring and summer, it’s more tolerable because you can take them out for fresh air and sunshine. In the fall and winter, uggghhhh. I try everything from fidget blankets to distract her to sun lamps to make it seem as if the sun is still shining. Some days are better than others. Unfortunately my mom is now at a later stage in which she cries for the duration of her sundowning, so I have her on Lorazapam to calm her down. Somedays her sundowning lasts only a few minutes, but somedays, it can go on for 2 hours. Uggghhh.
Basically, the best way to cope with Sundowning is to:
~Reduce noise, clutter, or the number of people in the room. ~Try to distract the person with a favorite snack, object, or activity. ~Make early evening a quiet time of day. ~Close the curtains or blinds at dusk to minimize shadows and the confusion they may cause.
You may want to get your wife a baby doll to swaddle which is often very soothing for a restless person suffering with dementia/Alzheimers & sundowners. You can get an expensive one on Amazon especially made for Alzheimers, or, you can go to eBay and get one like this for lots less money:
Be sure to also get a blanket to swaddle the baby in. Such dolls can provide a renewed sense of purpose to a woman who's once had babies of her own to care for. It's very common in Memory Care Assisted Living settings to see both men and women caring for these dolls with broad smiles on their faces.
3 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
ADVERTISEMENT
https://www.google.com/search?q=sundowners+syndrome+tips&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS896US896&oq=sundowners+syndrome+tips&aqs=chrome..69i57.7244j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Basically, the best way to cope with Sundowning is to:
~Reduce noise, clutter, or the number of people in the room.
~Try to distract the person with a favorite snack, object, or activity.
~Make early evening a quiet time of day.
~Close the curtains or blinds at dusk to minimize shadows and the confusion they may cause.
You may want to get your wife a baby doll to swaddle which is often very soothing for a restless person suffering with dementia/Alzheimers & sundowners. You can get an expensive one on Amazon especially made for Alzheimers, or, you can go to eBay and get one like this for lots less money:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/11-Lifelike-Newborn-Babies-Cute-Reborn-Girls-Dolls-Silicone-Handmade-Baby-Toy/353321005900?hash=item524392b34c%3Ag%3AGWMAAOSwsaRf0zLm&LH_ItemCondition=1000
Be sure to also get a blanket to swaddle the baby in. Such dolls can provide a renewed sense of purpose to a woman who's once had babies of her own to care for. It's very common in Memory Care Assisted Living settings to see both men and women caring for these dolls with broad smiles on their faces.
Best of luck with a tough situation.