If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease or another condition that causes dementia, or if you’ve noticed consistent behavioural changes in an older individual near the end of the day, it’s important to understand the term ‘sundowning’ and how it can affect seniors. While this condition isn’t uncommon, it’s the kind of thing you might not know about until it impacts your family—but once it does, it helps to be informed and ready to offer support.
Here’s a brief overview of sundowning including what it is, its causes and how you can help aging loved ones navigate this challenge. For personalized advice from our care team, or if you’d like to learn more about hiring a Personal Support Worker (PSW) to assist a relative with dementia, please contact us. We’d be glad to answer your questions and provide a personalized quote for high quality caregiver services in Toronto, Mississauga and the surrounding areas.
What is sundowning?
The term ‘sundowning’ refers to a specific set of late-day cognitive challenges that affect many older Canadians—particularly those who are in the middle or late stages of Alzheimer’s Disease or another condition that causes dementia. Sundowning typically begins around 4:00 pm and can last into the evening, with symptoms including confusion, anxiety, pacing or wandering, and sometimes aggression.
Some seniors who experience sundowning may function relatively well during the day but struggle as evening sets in, while others may experience an increase in symptoms that are present throughout the day. This is a helpful article on sundowning from the Alzheimer’s Society in the UK. If you have specific questions about a loved one’s health, please ask their doctor.
What causes sundowning?
Medical professionals believe that sundowning has a number of potential causes including fatigue or disruption to a person’s internal clock. Sundowning can be related to prescription medication, mood disorders, a lack of access to sunlight, unaddressed hunger or other factors. Sundowning is common in those with dementia or other cognitive impairments, but it can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI), which should be assessed by a physician. If your aging loved one shows sudden or unexplained signs of sundowning, a UTI may be the cause. You can find more information on UTIs here—please let us know if you have any questions.
How to minimize sundowning symptoms
While sundowning is common among seniors and there is no ‘cure’ to speak of, there are several ways to minimize the frequency and severity of symptoms, allowing seniors to maintain a sense of calm and security at home. Sundowning symptoms can often be mitigated by maintaining a healthy, consistent daily routine, limiting caffeine and sugar, and avoiding unfamiliar surroundings in the late afternoon and evening. Exposure to sunlight during the day and darkness at night can help maintain healthy sleep patterns, which aid in symptom mitigation. It can also help to reduce your loved one’s exposure to overstimulating sounds (for example, loud music or television), particularly at the end of the day. A calm, comfortable, familiar environment is ideal!
Sleep is a very important factor. If a senior is overtired from not sleeping enough, sundowning symptoms may increase. However, napping too long or too often can also be detrimental as it may disrupt a senior’s bedtime routine or overnight sleep patterns. Ideally, a senior will be active and exposed to sunlight/bright spaces during the day, then sleep well in a dark, calm environment overnight.
Contact us for reliable, effective support
Sundowning can be challenging for seniors and their loved ones, but our experienced, reliable caregivers are adept at supporting clients with these needs. Consistent daily routines, empathetic care and one-on-one support can be of great help to seniors with dementia while providing much-needed peace of mind to their families. Please contact Living Assistance Services to learn more—we’re pleased to support families in Toronto, Mississauga and other nearby communities.