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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.