Sundowners Syndrome
For most of us, sunset is an occasion we celebrate. It's a time of transition from the often frenetic energy of the day to the more subdued and relaxing nature of evening. But for many elderly who suffer from Alzheimer's disease or some other form of dementia, it can be a time of increased memory loss, confusion, agitation, and even anger. For family members who care for Alzheimer's patients, witnessing an increase in their loved one's symptoms of dementia at sunset can be nothing short of troubling, if not also painful, frightening, and exhausting.
Margaret, a 72-year-old with early-stage Alzheimer's, loves her breakfasts and is usually in temperate spirits each morning in her care facility's dining room. While she exhibits most of the common symptoms of Alzheimer's in the morning and after lunch-such as short-term memory loss, language impediments, and disorientation-her personality is manageable and she gets along relatively well with others. But as the sun goes down and the staff changes shifts, Margaret becomes alarmingly moody and often will shout at those around her. She's been known to strike out at staff trying to help her. Often when she goes to bed, she is ranting about people in her past, preventing her and others from getting a decent night's sleep.
This article continues at Sundowners Syndrome and Care for Alzheimer's Patients.