What is Sundowning?

[@janetgies8698]

Teepa is an amazing lady. Although I don’t have to care for a relative with dementia I learn so much from her. A big thing I’ve learned is to eliminate all forms of sugar in my diet. Sugar is the “Meth” of the common man.❤

[@waltcorey5115]

Yes indeed! I'm now convinced Alzheimer’s is the result of metabolic dysfunction. It can be improved/reversed through metabolic changes, diet, etc. Further there are physical problems with the blood brain barrier and neurons go into starvation and ultimately death. However, ketones can traverse a damaged blood brain barrier and neurons love ketones as a replacement for glucose.

[@257rani]

​@@waltcorey5115 ❤

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, @janetgies8698! Thanks and I'm glad that you are learning so much from Teepa. As a member of her team, I learn more every day too. If you'd like to learn more, consider subscribing to our channel (kzbin.info/door/SXrEX7LkWOmfTaV6u1C7wQ) or visiting our website (www.teepasnow.com) too.

[@FreebornLivingWoman]

Aye, the medical professionals involved in our care never considered that sugar, or even carbohydrates cause dementia. As do BIG PHARMA medications. Too late for my Dad but at age 90, with 10 years of caring for him I share what I can with others. Even hospice fail to recognise the link between sugar, carbs seed oils on cognitive deterioration.

[@debseechange8902]

I have worked in aged care for 20 years, and worked with dementia a lot.. a lot of this information will help me understand the sundowners more…thank you.. from my simple and basic perspective I have observed over the years that a lot of dementia patients don’t remember to drink and or like water..probably their brain is unable to register their thirst and how to fix it… As the day passes, and as carers are so busy, fluids are often not encouraged enough…I observed the patient become more confused and or negative as the day goes by…I have experimented many many times, encouraging fluids.. with positive effects… if I notice a patient start displaying certain behaviours coming close to dinner time, I will make a special effort to encourage fluids over a short period, for example I will sit with them or encourage them to have as close to a full small glass of water if possible and come back about half an hour later and encourage another glass of water, I may need to give more soon after.. This more often than not has had a very positive effect.. I have noted a significant change in a short period of time in a lot of cases.. their demeanour changes quite quickly…what I see is a dementia patient that often doesn’t stop all day, they don’t drink, or eat in some cases, leading to dehydration and delirium and ultimately UTIs… dehydration would also effect their bowel movements lack of… One of many patients did not like water on a good day, she was just not a water drinker but would drink tea, but not when she got to that stage..she had advanced dementia and could be stubborn and was a very independent and gorgeous woman… It was very difficult to encourage her when I came on an afternoon shift, particularly if other staff had not tried earlier and throughout the day…it would become almost impossible, leading her to experience severe sundowners, delirium, hypotension, UTIs and loss of balance.. leading to bad falls…her better days I had observed were the days I was able to stay on top of her hydration… I found it an effective way to help bring them back to a level that was more manageable for them… apart from other distractive strategies we would use.. I have found regular encouraged fluids helped in the elderly with or without dementia in general.. as even patients without dementia would have increased negative behaviours… one gentleman patient I looked after without dementia was a gentle giant, a lovely man…most of the time…I always knew when he had not been drinking enough fluids.. He would suddenly become very aggressive.. I would ask him if he had been drinking plenty of fluids, and always he would say no…we had an understanding and he would proceed to uptake his fluids and he would slowly begin to settle and feel better…I know there are all these other conditions that cause sundowners but fluids I feel have certainly helped either some or a lot… in my experience, which can be very challenging and does not always work.. water over other types of fluids are so important I feel and the benefits are underestimated…

[@debseechange8902]

I found one on one connection time also helped, but unfortunately in many of our aged care facilities are understaffed.

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, @debseechange8902! Thanks for reminding us about the importance of regular hydration and for all of your efforts when you worked with folks.

[@teepasnowvideos]

@debseechange8902, yes many of our facilities are understaffed.

[@ladonnajuarez8437]

I had wondered what kind of role good hydration played in the scheme of things as I noticed my loved one not drinking like he use to. I was worried about UTIs but wondered about Electrolite imbalance . Thank you, this makes sense to me because I see a difference but I'm just caring for one person.

[@CaleighTorres]

I have been using Teepa's teachings and videos for the last several years as a clinical educator in a long term care setting. It has become a staple of dementia/Alzheimer's training for new hires as well as a refresher for current staff.

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, were glad to hear this. Thank you for what you do and please continue to share us out so we can keep educating people.

[@LordsPrayerBear]

Q: Did she really go call someone when she left the room? Does the person typically forget they wanted to leave because they are in a better environment? Really love this format of a full webinar with a ton of information and role plays and then a break to review and break it down. Thank you for your generous sharing!

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, @jkramer8468, I'm not sure if Teepa really made a call when she left the room, but do you think that was important or was it more important that she helped the person in the moment? As to your 2nd question - it isn't necessarily that a person forgets that they wanted to leave, but often a change of environment and some time spent with another person helps that person not feel alone (or some other unmet need is answered). It's not always about the actual words the person is saying, but we need to look behind the emotion to what they might really be needing. If you'd like to see more videos like this one, subscribe to the channel (kzbin.info/door/SXrEX7LkWOmfTaV6u1C7wQ) or check out the many resources at www.teepasnow.com

[@FreebornLivingWoman]

My biggest challenge is my sleep being disturbed at night, often 2-6 times a night, 6-7 nights per week. I have my own health challenges to manage, and the lack of sleep is impacting on that. Our support services are not and supportive as they could be and there is no compassion. I have no paid carers coming in to help me with my Dad at home, so some days can be very very long and challenging. Best wishes to all who have devoted their lives to caring, in what ever capacity that may be. Watching from New Zealand with respect and gratitude to Teepa for sharing her knowledge and life skill ❤🙏❤

[@teepasnowvideos]

Thanks for sharing and that sounds very difficult. We would love to support you and your father. We offer a free 30 minute consult with a team member. teepasnow.com/services/consulting/phone-consultations/

[@donxqx]

In your professional opinion, did president of the United States was experiencing sundowning during recent debate?

[@teepasnowvideos]

We are here to support you. We offer a free 30 minute consult at teepasnow.com/services/consulting/phone-consultations/. Please reach out, we would love to talk with you.

[@cl5470]

My grandfather was sundowning for a few years before he passed away. Unfortunately, he was also a longterm alcoholic, and we all mistook the symptoms for drunkenness until it was almost too late. I was too young at the time to understand or do anything to help. At least I can now look back with more understanding and no longer take his evening tirades personally. The dementia plus the alcohol made his extremely verbally abusive and later, even physically abusive. For years, I thought it was something I was causing. Thanks for the info.

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, @cl5470. I'm sorry that you had some hard times with your grandfather, that shouldn't have happened. I'm glad that you now have a better understanding and have come to some new awareness about yourself. Thanks for sharing.

[@waltcorey5115]

That was really good! Perhaps the most informative that ive watched. I may have missed the vid where you explained GEM State but you list me on that. My wife and I are early boomers, children of the 50s, teens of the 60s, aka the Entermanns and Oreos, super refined carbs period. I believe our cohort needs some acclimation to AD from both the caregiver and care recipient perspective. I understand your role is compassionate care and not the science of the disease but amelioration may not be outside your wheelhouse. Specifically that gapping hole in the MRI/PET didnt have to be there. That reflects neuronal death. Before permanent damage the brain suffers insulin resistance where, for more technical reasons, brain cells cant get glucose. As of some landmark research going back to the '30s science has known ketones help brain dysfunction. Science knows it also improves outcomes and, arguably, reverses certainly the behavioral effects. Do you in your practice have any real world experiences with puttingban individual exhibiting early signs on MCT oil. MCT oil tells the liver to produce ketones, as does a very low carb diet. Ketones can cross a damaged blood brain barrier to feed the brain. They say adults today are far more concerned with developing AD than cancer. I would think care partners would find their lot in life far more pleasant if their patient/client was all but normal cognitively as well as behaviorally. Thank you guysvfor what you do. My sincerest hope is, to quote Mr Miyagi, "no be there"!

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, @waltcorey5115, so glad that you like this video and found it to be so helpful. We appreciate your thoughts as well. If you would like to talk more about your ideas, please reach out to us at [e-mail] of call 1-877-877-1671. As to information about the GEMS, check out this video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGe4h52mlN5rfrs)

[@trudywilliams4544]

Finally someone who makes sense ❤

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, @trudywilliams4544! Thanks so much for letting us know that our explanation made sense.

[@stevietalk1]

PLEASE TELL TEEPA THIS- I’ve followed Teepa for a few yrs. now & her Positive Approach to Care. I got my Mom close to where I live, in an Indy seniors residence (2019). We worked in a relationship that had been not good over the decades .. it was great for both of us to have a new experience. To trust o w another & know we are there to the end. I saw the Diamond state in Mom from 2019 & the past 6-9 mos. A quick slide downward .. I was determined to NOT have a crisis ( as many of my friends have experienced) and find a PAC home for Mom BEFORE a place was thrust upon us, with no options. I went to Italy for 2 wks., having JUST returned. Knee I couldn’t go away without her having increased care. Her Sundowning in evenings was painful, indy w/ her own suite was too much for her, distressing. I found a wonderful LTC residence w/ 43 rooms. It has 9 private rooms & 34 subsidized. I got her in with it ONE week. (Power of positive thinking , determination & manifesting ❤) She is now on list for subsidized mo. Rent (80%of income) may take 6 mos. To a yr. but we can work with it. It was rocky to get her to stay but within a couple of days she had forgotten her former home, her BEST friend there & had settled very well. She was there 2 wks. Before I left for Italy … My husband & I needed time away, my mom was totally supported & having her needs met. I am grateful . The staff are fabulous with the residents. I talked to manager 1/3 way through trip, he said she was still Sundowning but manageable. I look forward to seeing her this week… letting go of expectations of what will happen or how it will look. I’ve taken a couple of your day courses.programs Thank you Teepa for sharing your knowledge - it truly IS power.

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, @stevietalk1! We will definitely share this with Teepa. We are so happy to hear that your learning has made a difference. I hope that your trip to Ital continues to be good for you. Please reach out to us on your return if you'd like to talk more. [e-mail] or 1-877-877-1671.

[@janetpogue4970]

♥

[@purelightlove8888]

Many Thanks TEEPA, my dad passed from Dementia in 2010, now my 92 year old mom has the onset of it noticeably after each of the 3 C-19 jabs… 🧐 (Posting this: 5-31-2024)

[@teepasnowvideos]

Hi, thanks for sharing. If you would like to reach out to us we offer a free 30 minute consult at teepasnow.com/services/consulting/phone-consultations/. Take Care

[@debrajohnson7490]

Great information.

[@teepasnowvideos]

Glad you think so, @debrajohnson!