Home Add to Favorite Contact Submit  
             29 March, 2024
 

    
Category:  Articles » Home Management » Elder Care

 

Alzheimer's and Sundowners

Popularity:
         Views: 2055
2006-10-29 04:03:33     
Article by Brian Ward

It's 5:00 p.m., and all of a sudden your calm, serene mother is now very agitated, angry, and maybe even combative. Nothing you do seems to help, and quite frankly, you're nervous and maybe even frightened. It seems as if there is nothing you can do. Take heart; you're not alone, and there is help.

What your loved one with Alzheimer's is experiencing is called Sundowners. It is very common for those with Alzheimer's disease to become increasingly agitated as daylight fades away into night. Why the agitation?

Let's use you as an example. Say you have a child in school, and everyday, you pick her up from school at 3:30 p.m. You've been picking her up since kindergarten, and now she is in the eighth grade. So all in all, you've picked her up for the better part of nine years. How would you feel, if 3:30 arrived, and you knew you had something important to do, but you couldn't remember what it was? What if you felt a strong urge to do something, and the later it got the more agitated you became? And that's just after a nine-year habit.

Now, let's think about your mom. For years and years, your mom took care of the house and your dad went to work. Come sundown, it was time to begin preparationf for dinner. Taking care of husband and children was her job. It was who she was. Now, all these years later, she has Alzheimer's disease, and with each passing day, more and more of her memory is wiped away. Now sundown comes, and she knows she should be doing something, but what is it? That's why it's called Sundowners Syndrome. But what can you do about it? How can you help?

There are actually several things you can do. And things you can try. Here is a list of some of some of the things that have been successful for others.

1. Before darkness approaches, make sure the house is well lit. The brightness inside, reduces the feeling of time passing.

2. Buy mini blinds that are a bright color. This also gives the illusion of daylight.

3. Think of what your loved one used to do at the time she begins to get anxious. Was it cook? Take her into the kitchen and give her something to do. Who knows? It might calm her down.

4. Calming, less exciting activities as the afternoon progresses.

Understanding what is happening to your loved one, is the beginning of the solution.

URL: http://www.alzheimerstalks.com
Print article      Bookmark this page
Related Articles 
Distinguish between good and bad care home (Popularity: ): Research indicates the mortality rates at critical care homes are less than the national average mortality rate. Therefore, taking your critically ill in accordance with one of these homes would increase their survival rate tremendously. However, you should observe that while all homes work at enhancing the welfare of the patient, some facilities are better. It is therefore necessary to choose the best critical care homes for the patient. The ...
Services Provided by Home Care CT Agencies (Popularity: ): When considering home care CT residents should understand their options for services so that planning for a sick or injured relative’s care will go smoothly and everyone will know what to expect. For in home care CT agencies typically offer personal care, homemaker and companion services.Personal Care Home care CT agencies supply personnel such as nurses’ aides or certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to assist patients needing help with their activities of ...
Medical Walkers - What Brands and Features Are Available? (Popularity: ): Life is tough enough when you have mobility problems. When just walking to the mailbox is too much, using a walker is a big help. There are plenty of options in medical walkers, so there should be no problem finding on that will suit your particular needs. What helps is knowing the brand names, model numbers and features are out there so you can make an informed decision and a ...
Recognizing Elder Abuse (Popularity: ): Abuse can happen for any age group, including adults and the elderly who may be too frail or physically and mentally challenged to defend themselves. Every year, incidents are reported by witnesses or individuals who have witnessed or had "hunches" about claimed abuse reports. There is a question of how many others are being unreported. That is why it is important to recognize abuse when it takes place. After all, ...
Proactive Care - Staying in Tune With Our Elderly Parents (Popularity: ): Aging is a natural process. We cannot reverse it or prevent it. It's another stage in our lives. Our retirement years are just another stage in our lives. During our retirement years we undergo physical, mental and emotional changes. As your parents age you may notice these changes. This is the time to get involved in your parents lives. Taking a little bit of time to stay connected with our ...


Related Business 
Alzheimer's News (Popularity: ): Blog covering topics on dementia, cognitive disorders and memory loss in the patient Alzheimer. Alzheimer Info is a blog that allows you access to relevant information about the disease in older subjects.
Heatherwood Alzheimer's Assisted Living (Popularity: ): Walnut Creek, CA facility for Alzheimer and dementia patients. Site includes description of program and services, admitting procedure, an online assessment tool, links to Alzheimer and dementia resources, and driving directions.
Alzheimer's Association (Popularity: ): The national Alzheimer's Association. Provides information about Alzheimer's disease, resources, research advances, publications, and events; includes contact information and links to local AA chapters all over the United States.
Alzheimer's Disease Videos (Popularity: ): Videos for caregiving for Alzheimer's disease, including calming, relaxing videos of nature that persons with Alzheimer's can enjoy.
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease (Popularity: ): International multidisciplinary journal to facilitate progress in understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and is dedicated to providing an open forum for original research that will expedite our fundamental understanding of Alzheimer's disease. Published by IOS Press.
California Registry - Caring for Alzheimer's Patients (Popularity: ): Receive information on Alzheimer's disease, caring for the patient at home and how to choose the proper facility. We can assist you with resources and placement of the Alzheimer's patient in the proper facility.
Alzheimer's Disease International (Popularity: ): An umbrella organisation of national Alzheimer Associations around the world.
Alzheimer's Outreach (Popularity: ): Offers numerous directories on various different aspects of Alzheimer's Disease.
Alzheimer's Research Center (Popularity: ): Information about treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and other dementing illnesses.
Alzheimer Society of Canada (Popularity: ): Information, research and care to help Canadians affected by Alzheimer's Disease.