AlzheimersNotes.com
SUNDOWNING
Sundowning refers to the agitation and wandering that occurs with Alzheimer’s patients in late afternoon, about the time the sun goes down. For some reason that researchers don’t completely understand, Alzheimer’s patients frequently tend to become agitated about this time of day.
Some have a greater tendency to wander in late afternoon, too.  So they have to be watched more carefully at these times for their safety.
Have you experienced sundowning with your Alzheimer’s patient?
(Here’s an abstract about sundowning from the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 9/22/07.)
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

AlzhemersNotes.com
 (My piece  about restraints for Alzhemer’s patients , to keep them from opening a door and escaping or otherwise injuring themselves, drew many comments.  I’m using some of these as guest posts or in collections of comments.  I thought Bob Matthews had a very insightful comment, based on his experiences while caring for his dad. I’m posting it below.)
It’s a hard thing to do, and you are bound to get many negative comments from people who have never had to deal with an Alzheimer’s patient, but there comes a time when there is no choice.
The only option is to carefully choose …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com
The use of restraints, to keep Alzheimer’s patients from wandering, getting into unsafe areas, escaping out-of-doors, raises much controversy, especially when connected with nursing home residents.  There’s a balance with a fine line that separates safety from abuse in most people’s eyes.
More nursing homes and elder care agencies continually research ways to keep patients safe without severe restraints.
*The use of alarms that go off when a patient tries to get out of a wheel chair.
*Alarms that signal the opening of a door into an area where the patient may be unsafe.
*The use of a tray across a chair that might …read more

AlzheimersNotes.com 
  Falls are the leading cause of death by accidental injury among people who are older than 65, according to an article, Home visits can help keep elders on their feet, in the DailyPress.com, by Fredrick Kunkle.  Here we learn some of the statistics about falls and the elderly and how home aides can educate about keeping homes safer.   
 Falling is of great concern as one ages and becomes more unsteady on the feet.  The elderly also aren’t so resilient if they do fall. 
My aunt’s family moved her to a nursing home when she became too unsteady to stay alone when …read more