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

AlzheimersNotes.com
One of the most frustrating aspects of caring for an Alzheimer’s family member or one with some form of dementia is their lack of need for sleep at night and their wandering when you want to sleep.  I found I cat napped and never slept soundly for the months Mother lived with us.
One of my Alzheimer’s Notes readers shares with us and asks for a solution:

I have a friend whose mother also has mild dementia and when she takes her turn at caring for her mother, she is up all night long.
We have had many conversations about what she and …read more