3 Mistakes to Avoid that Make Sundowning Symptoms Worse in Dementia

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1- Activities Ideas
2- What to say/do for specific Challenging Behaviors
Thanks for watching! In this video I'll share,what sundowning is, 3 things to avoid in handling it and 3 things I've found that make sundowning less severe or calm your loved one or client down completely.
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Sundowning isn't a diagnosis or it's own disease, it is a way to describe something that happens to a lot of folks with dementia where the symptoms they already have get worse as the day goes on or as the sun goes down.
What you will tend to see is anywhere from early afternoon to late at night symptoms can be increased agitation, confusion, pacing, wandering, aggression, mood swings or even delusions or hallucinations. Not everyone will experience sundowning, but if they do, it tends to happen mostly with folks in the mid to late stages of dementia.
What is interesting about this phenomenon is no one has figured out yet why this happens but one theory is that a brain with dementia gets refreshed with sleep and performs best in the morning
but as the day becomes fatigued easier and faster which results in symptoms getting worse.
1#: Don't Make Them Sit Still During Sundowning Times
The biggest mistake you can make is making your loved one or client sit still around the times sundowning usually starts. This is because for most of us the early to mid afternoon is typically filled with being busy and the habit or routine of wanting to do something around this time doesn't go away. Just because you get older or get dementia.
For example, If your mom was a stay at home mom. Around 3pm she was getting snack or dinner ready, driving you around, going to the store etc
Do Set a Routine that Makes Sense for the Individual
Getting your mom involved in an activity around that time. Consistently around the time you know sundowning happens for her will lessen or even prevent sundowning.
#2: Don't Let the Environment Be Chaotic or Confusing
Clutter, loud noises, shadows can be common triggers for sundowning. The good news is this is one of the easiest things to control.
Do "Dementia Proof" your home
Dementia proof your home is a similar idea to baby proofing your home or your facility. If you need more help with this, I have a free check-list for this in my newsletter. To get rid of common sundowning triggers you can, shut the curtains as the sun is going down to prevent shadows have soft music in headphones to cancel out loud sudden noises and a simple clean room.
#3 Don't Respond with a Frustrated Tone of Voice or Body Language
Due to sundowning, people with dementia read into this much more during this time of day. They look to how you are responding and take that as a cue to how they should respond to you or how they should feel.
Do Respond to Sundowning with A Calm Voice and Non-Threatening Body Language
Talking in a low voice near their ear if they are hard of hearing and a little bit to the side will communicate that you are on their side and will reduce symptoms getting worse as the day goes on.

[@user-tz1pg2dy5v]

I find that turning on more lights in the house helps with preventing sundowning. By turning on more lights, especially at bedtime, I get more cooperative behaviors.

[@lorikoetzner6834]

Try doing it prior t to the sun going down

[@gingerrivas5354]

It is well describe by scientific that light at night helps

[@saradorris3554]

I worked at a nursing home for a year, and i was so heart broken on how many CNAs including myself didn't handle people with dementia well.

[@dochubbell]

I am taking care of a sweet 81 year old who has Alzheimer's. She has been experiencing sundowning with me lately. I remain calm, so she remains calmer in the long run. I acknowledge her feelings and what she thinks she sees. We have even gone to inspect the door she thinks is open, or I reassure her that the house alarm is on so no one can come to her room without the bothe of us knowing about it. The best advice you gave is the importance of staying calm and understanding. Thenks

[@peterbaranyai6057]

I don't think you get or understand " Sundowning " . They " Don't see dead people or smell them " . Are you even a Doctor or are you trolling for rich women or Homer Sexual Men ? Yes I wrote " Homer " on purpose Doc?

[@user-rg6ql1bs4w]

What does she think she sees? My sister thinks she has men peeping in her windows at night. Even though there are blackout blinds on the windows. Now they have started coming into her room at night. It’s very real and very scarey for her. She sometimes yells at them to get out of her room. 2:23

[@windflower3619]

you said something that dementia patients need environmental cues. This even comes down to television shows with my granddad. If I start watching a show he’s not familiar with he has a “impulse” meltdown where he’ll mock every single word and sentence from the show instead of trying to understand it.

[@RogosRinted]

this is what happens with my grandpa

[@sarahstrong7174]

Unfamiliar things take a huge amount of extra processing capacity & people with dementia have less. So they can be overwhelmed, which makes people feel very vulnerable & frightened.

[@cila1898]

I wish I had found this when I was caring for my mother-you so clearly & quickly explain things. I hope others struggling to properly care for their loved ones are finding this. So spot on on & would have been so helpful. Thank you for doing all your "shorts". They are perfect for overwhelmed caretakers trying to learn under fire. Blessings to you!

[@sandstew2697]

I shut lights low or off except for walking paths for my clients, lights up all night over stimulate him, he.needs calmer environment with music or his favorite TV series

[@newadventure5609]

Thank you for helping caregivers! My late mother had dementia, and passed away last year. I was her caregiver for about 3 years. I wish I had this information earlier. It might havesaved me a lot of trouble. But I appreciate your helping others.

[@michaelmcguire4212]

Very, very well done! Congrats. As an Elder Law attorney, always in search of solutions to assist clients and their caregiving families!

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

Michael McGuire I appreciate you commenting and your kind words!

[@SK-pt7zu]

Thank you very much. I couldn't understand why my husband would start wandering around the house for no reason and I did not know what to do for it. Your suggestion of giving him something to do is so helpful. He joins me in a task either before or after we walk around the house and then he is content.

[@lisabrinton2614]

Thank you for the great information!

[@kimmaddison1997]

I'm like this 😭 in evening become hyper talk loud and agitated peaple have told me that I repeat myself over and over so I accused peaple peaple gaslighters I got early symptoms I'm going to see Dr

[@user-sg8wf5qo9s]

You have such a great material, I'm watching in advance to prepare myself for the inevitable with my older relatives. So glad I've come across your channel!

[@joannesargeant943]

Thank you for all your support, Hon. Your videos have made the Dementia Adventure I'm having with my MIL so much easier and more validating. I appreciate you so much.

[@beliazavala3303]

Thank you the video it help me to understand my parents with dementia and I will be more careful to respond to them.

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

I’m so glad!

[@FerrisBueller-lj9zj]

Well done 👍⭐️👍⭐️👍

[@tabithakumar864]

Thank you

[@Scott-gn8yo]

Thank you for these ideas!

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

Of course!

[@totoh82]

Your videos are super helpful for a gerontology worker, thank you

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

Tova H I’m so glad I could help 💕

[@JacquelynJoyce]

great video

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

Thanks girl!

[@silviamontrucchio5083]

Thank you so much! I'm writing from Italy....both my parents have dementia, it' really sad...

[@theaweavers8576]

We go for a walk and enjoy different scenery

[@peterteixeira2893]

I love your eyes.

[@francesbernard2445]

What do we do when the signs and symptoms of a diagnosis of Dementia in a person are not at all typical during allegedly the middle stage? How can we advocate for them without being a doctor with the specialty called Gerentology when there is no Gerentologist in the city where you live? The concept called Sundowning reminds me of what being a leader in a week long cub camp setting was like when the early risers would wake up early after a good sleep when in their youth being able to sleep through anything. Anything like the children who love getting away with staying up late are busy partying (Maybe with an adult in the men's sleeping area who never grew up) well into the wee hours of the morning and then beeing sleepy during the morning programmed well ahead actitities. Us cub leaders had to take shifts supervising them. Making it impossible for me to discern if all was well in general.

[@peterbaranyai6057]

Wow ,really great tips thanks . The problem is that my Mothers illness is killing me . Emotionally draining ,physically exhausting and both soul crushing & heartbreaking . I often tell her that she's brave . Wonder if and when I will have the courage to place her in a caregivers hands !

[@jenniferflorida7000]

Baby steps. Hire someone to give yourself a break. Go shopping, have lunch with friends, go to the gym. A couple hours a few times a week will help ease you into caregivers and help your mental health

[@peterbaranyai6057]

@@jenniferflorida7000 I tried a caregiver and found that she treated my Mom like a 5 year old child . I think my Mom was scared of her because she was black . My mother who slapped me the first time I said the N word at the dinner table .My Dad laughed . When things started disappearing , I expected it came with the territory . But of course , the caregiver got greedy and I asked how could you take advantage of a sick elderly woman " how low are you " and worse ! Now I must figure out how to trust a new one ?

[@jenniferflorida7000]

@peterbaranyai6057 gosh, I'm sorry that happened and I can understand your reluctance to trust. No advice to give other than you owe it to yourself to try and trust again. Best wishes!!

[@rhyannonp8231]

would giving them towels and socks to fold every day (same thing everyday) be something good?

[@gabbyeley3494]

I have a question about the clutter: What do you do when the person with dementia won't let you clean the clutter/organize, even if you're trying to include them in the process??

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

Gabby Eley If that’s the case, cleaning/organizing might need to get done when they aren’t in the room if you tried multiple times and their stand for independence/control happens to be that task. If you need to get help or simply wait until they are asleep that is what you might need to do in order to set yourself and your LO for success.

[@gabbyeley3494]

@@dementiasuccesspath2239 Wow, Thank you so much for replying! My mother and I did try to do that. Unfortunately, she has started sleeping less often and sleeping more lightly. The ironic thing is most of the clutter is centered on her bed, so she sleeps elsewhere. We just want her to have a nice, comfortable place for her to be in :

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

Gabby Eley I see, then likely the help route or, if there is an activity that you trust her to do on her own (crossword, adult coloring book, relaxing with music on the couch) for you to sneak to her room to clean that might be a way

[@gabbyeley3494]

@@dementiasuccesspath2239 You know, I didn't think of that. We may try that next. Thank you so much❤

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

Gabby Eley my pleasure! Distraction for the win.

[@CeciliaSanchez-jv6fd]

I’m caregiver and I care a elderly with dementia what questions or how to make some conversations that not batter to her or him? Thanks 🙏

[@wunderwaffen273]

My grandpa has dementia and now he is a buff cyborg weilding a pincer blade with a thick american accent with six shields on his back that make him fucking invincible

[@nchandler7732]

Thak you. Seeking a support group for caregivers of adults with Down Syndrome exhibiting signs of dementia... any leads?

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

Let me know which common mistake surprised you like it did for me.

[@beverlysomers5448]

The tip that they were used to being busy around that time based on their past really hit home. My mom always wants to help but between macular degeneration and dementia I just want her to go relax so I can get it done. Will try to incorporate having things she can do and not get upset and speak calmly. Thanks

[@Coratime]

When you said they take their cues from our body language and voice tone. 👍🏽 Thanks

[@Jay123hollis]

I have a hereditary neurogenerative disease called Olivopontocerebellar atrophy. I just came across this channel.

[@lorrainedusseau5926]

Wow talk about a mouthful. What does it mean?

[@Jay123hollis]

@Lorraine Dusseau It is a neuro degenerative brain disease that eventually stops brain function.

[@janp7943]

Good tips however my mother in law can't hear or see well. Music doesn't work as she can't hear it plus its hard to find an activity as she is also not mobile. This is so difficult.

[@juanitalewis6504]

My mom is blind now so any suggestions

[@toniathibodeaux2813]

Audio keeps cutting in and out. Could not understand every

[@Ryan88881]

And trust me, there's nothing one could *ever* do to help sundown syndrome. Other than give them some space if not heavy tranquilizers or something. No amount of sweet-talk or fond memories and "enjoyable" activities would be tolerable in what is literally a delirium-type state. There's quite a bit of crossover between (certain kinds of) delirium and dementia. This isn't just someone who's experiencing some clinical neurological faltering. Their brains are basically wholly destroyed and the chthonic, evil, twilight hours is peak derangement. Do not try to think you are so charming or therapeutic and positive that you think you can outdo or even mitigate such a hellish state. Like I said, I've been there and a euthanasia would've been preferable. It's MUCH worse than it looks from the outside. And fairly misleading even.

[@motherofpink2236]

She screams like a tornado siren every night. What do I do?😢

[@Ryan88881]

@@motherofpink2236 Other than diazepam and letting them be, there's not really much one can do. I'm sorry to hear about your situation.

[@hellenpeterson8004]

My husband has dementia and he is blind what advice do you have for him. He has sundown.!! How do I deal with this

[@dementiasuccesspath2239]

I would look for signs of sundowning, restlessness, pacing, more agitation and then give him something that doesn’t require a lot of brain power to do preferably outside (even the vitamin d hitting his skin will help his body reorient to the time of day even if he can’t see). Examples may be you assisting him in watering plants, it could be simply rolling him if he is in a wheelchair or assisting him in walking outside, or it could be listening to some calming music where he can get some sunlight. Having him know there is a change of scenery will help. One of my clients was blind and is a musician. What helped him calm was getting him outside,playing some music I knew he liked and asked him if he liked x song (this is an easy topic for him that didn’t require a lot of brain power) and he was off the the races.

[@sammysboy]

My husband is blind and deaf .we cannot communicate anymore.it is so difficult.everyone is different to this awful disease.

[@HalloweenQueen2024]

Yea my grandma screams in the afternoon she’s now 75 years old she has hallucinations at night she goes from a 1 to 💯 real fast but my mom is the only one who’s taking care of her and my mom gets easily irritated by my grandma being loud at the time we all need to go to bed I tell her and my sister tell her not scream at her to talk to her in a soft gentle voice but she goes in her room and has a shouting match with my grandma plus my grandma says some awful things about her and me and my sister she constantly wants to talk she was a full time nurse but she injured her back she’s paralyzed from the waist down she gets extremely paranoid at night too which is very weird and she’s fallen almost 90 times the last fall was in the hospital she liked to get up at night and that’s usually when she would fall at night I really think my mom needs to put her in a home cause my mom just cannot to deal with it no more also she gets a lot of UTI’s they said she’ll always have one and it’ll likely end her life which is sad I think she gets delirium with her UTI’s she gets very aggressive too with my mom tries to fight her to get out of bed and sees things that aren’t there no matter how many times we put lights on 😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@tae1290]

So sorry hope you can find care for your grandma

[@HalloweenQueen2024]

Me too and thank you 🙏🏽

[@TheHatchetwoman]

UTIs in elderly women do cause delirium, as well as hostility. Give her vitamin C, chewable, if she's resisting having enough water.

[@lovelygirl8315]

I am young and I suffer from it…. I spend the day sitting, and remaining so does not help. These pieces of advice are not enough unfortunately. You can read that in any book on the subject. Nothing new…

[@nicoledavidson9068]

Not letting them sit still and watch T.V. Keep them Busy

[@vynneve]

You need to SLOW DOWN the titles lol. You are like flashing then, you need to show it about 2s longer then it takes for you to read it (you already know what it is at some level, hence adding 2s) plus don't cut it off right in the middle of a melody playing lmao thought that would be obvious. That's the timing i use at least. The way you have it done is so jarring

[@Ryan88881]

This "late afternoon wanting to do normal activities" hypothesis is honestly getting old. I never did shit at these hours traditionally and yet, at 5:40 pm on the *dot* without even looking at the clock mental anguish, incredible bane, dismay, extreme agitation, restless/akathisia and slight confusion (but more insanity/madness, cognitiv-emotio sense of ruination) and like I said, so much agitation. They would always happen at 5:40pm without exception other than one particular time it happened really late at 8 or 9pm and it was complete insanity. It felt like animalistic and even this frenzied, 'rabies-like' at a certain point. Almost like I wanted to horrendously sigh, or moan or even (not even joking) literally howl in anguish and noxiousness at the moon or something. Complete and utter senility and twilight confusion and the word that stuck with me most (besides agitation) in the night episode was bane. Just the feeling of being extremely bothered. You don't actually feel upset/irritable/angry, you just feel disturbed and hopelessly agitated. I had all this at mere 23 years old from Datura wrightii. It doesn't just happen with age-related cognitive decline or dementia. It happens with at least certain kinds of delirium too. Especially antimuscarinic delirium which is literally known to cause dementia. It happened on and off for 26 days (the sundowning episodes). Either way DO NOT force people who are genuinely sundowning to perform "activities" or even conversations. I would feel absolutely horrible just to even be around someone while I'm in that sundown state. If you see someone sundowning, for godsake, leave them alone. I would've dipped it and probably ran if someone even tried to get near me wtf. I have a feeling some of you guys don't truly understand how horrific the state feels.. If it didn't just last like 26 days for me and lasted say.. even less than a year I'd have taken myself out very quickly. Sundowning is worse than death. Don't play games with people in the midsts of twilight confusion.

[@annapestrada8423]

I offer this rosary 📿 of the Divine Mercy Chaplet for my daughter and my unborn granddaughter that should be born tomorrow 020422. Please say a prayer for all to be well for both.🙏🏼 She’s 35 and this is her first baby. Mother Mary please help me to pray to your son our Lord our God to be with her and to send his holy angels to be at her side during the delivery. Jesus we trust in you.🙏🏼♥️

[@roseizsvak5051]

My prayers are with you. My daughter also having a second baby after 21 years ..my second grandson 🙏

[@lorrainedusseau5926]

Watch the singing of the "Chaplet of Divine Mercy" I've been to the chapel that does in ( speaking) at 3pm. ( I was there with my friend and daughter. Meanwhile home in Maryland my parents had a house fire! It was outside from electrical box. Never went into the electrical system and never entered thru the wall into the house! Praise God! [July 3,2010❤] 😊

[@purelightlove8888]

Thank~You 🤍