Sundown Syndrome
So began a kind of magic in Dementialand that took place most nights after the day’s sun went down - Suzka, Wonders in Dementialand
image by: Thomas Johnson
HWN Suggests
Sundowning
My sister’s annual visits from Canada, always timed around the year-end holidays, are usually joyful ones, marked by reunions and celebrations. But over the last few years the visits have also been times when we face up to the challenges of caring for the elderly, not just our own but of family and friends. As an occupational therapist and speech pathologist, she catches the smallest changes in the way they speak, the way they walk, even facial expressions.
This last visit she pulled me aside one evening when my father was becoming quite distressed, clearly disoriented and agitated, asking to go home, though he was home. I had noticed this pattern of behavior even before she arrived.
Because…
Resources
Sundowning: A Common Phenomenon In People With Alzheimer's, Dementia; Know All About It
Sundowning refers to the emergence or worsening of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation, aggression and disorientation in the late afternoon or early evening.
What the Night Brings
This rage is so unlike my mother’s usual cheer, I wonder if it is physical — perhaps a symptom of “sundowning,” a syndrome exhibited by some people with dementia in which they become increasingly agitated in the evening or at night.
'Sundowning': Why Hospital Staffs Dread Nightfall, And How To Help Seniors Avoid It
Experts agree that confusion and agitation are more common in the evening and at night. But there is surprisingly little scientific consensus on what sundowning actually is. The debate is in how much sundowning and delirium are related. Some experts think they’re the same thing, others separate but related entities.
All-Night Care for Dementia’s Restless Minds
Nighttime can be treacherous for people with dementia, who are often struck by sleeplessness or night terrors and prone to wandering about. This agitation and disorientation, called “sundowning,” is especially vexing for relatives trying to care for them at home, and often hastens their placement in nursing homes.
Is 'The Visit's Sundowning A Real Disorder?
Before I begin, I would like to make one thing deeply clear: I would not recommend looking to horror films as a tool to learn more about the intricacies of neuropsychology. M. Night Shyamalan's new film The Visit is no exception. That said, the film does reference the very real neurodegenerative disease "sundowning," and for that, it deserves some attention.
Sundown Syndrome in Persons with Dementia: An Update
"Sundowning" in demented individuals, as distinct clinical phenomena, is still open to debate in terms of clear definition, etiology, operationalized parameters, validity of clinical construct, and interventions. In general, sundown syndrome is characterized by the emergence or increment of neuropsychiatric symptoms such as agitation, confusion, anxiety, and aggressiveness in late afternoon, in the evening, or at night.
Sundowning
With sundown syndrome, I’m beginning to reinterpret the dili ingon nato as little mental demons that assault us toward the end of the day, distorting our perceptions.
10 Ways to Manage Sundown Syndrome
Observe and minimize triggers. Watch for fatigue and other things that seem to spur on sundowning behaviors. Afternoon transitions and activities that you consider normal can be anxiety-producing for your loved ones.
Alzheimer's Association
Reduced lighting can increase shadows and may cause the person living with the disease to misinterpret what they see and, subsequently, become more agitated.
Alzheimer's Society
Sometimes you might see changes in the person’s behaviour in the later afternoon or towards the end of the day. During this time the person may become intensely distressed, agitated and have hallucinations or delusions. This may continue into the night, making it hard for them to get enough sleep.
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