The Sundowning Problems In Alzheimer’s Patients – Easiest Way To Assist
Sundowning problems (sleeping difficulty) are frequent in Alzheimer’s patients. This can manifest as tension and anxiety before bedtime, sleepwalking, waking up during the night, and other sleep-inducing actions or habits. Consistently interrupted sleep can leave your loved one weary and confused, putting them at risk of falling and suffering catastrophic injuries.
How to Assist Alzheimer’s Patient in Coping with Sundowning Problems
While there is no concrete, scientific explanation for why sundowning happens, there are a number of things you may do to help your loved one sleep better:
Create visual clues to assist your loved one in getting ready for bed.
Using environmental signals, you can reduce problems and assist your senior in going to bed more easily in the nights. This can include things like eating supper at the same time every night, lowering the lights an hour before bedtime, and other routines that assist your loved one get ready for bed. Following a pre-bedtime routine can assist reduce sundowning problems In Alzheimer’s patients
Assist your senior in remaining as active as possible.
It may seem impossible to go outside or engage in physical activity with someone who has Alzheimer’s or dementia. Hiking, going to the beach, or doing anything particularly strenuous are all examples of “physical exercise.”
Going to doctor’s visits, practicing some easy exercises, and engaging in other activities that require movement and attention can all assist to ensure that your senior is weary and ready to sleep when evening arrives.
Avoid stimulants in the hours leading up to bedtime.
Avoiding smoking, as well as consuming alcohol, soda, and coffee, will help you sleep better. Regulating your senior’s TV viewing time is also vital for helping them sleep better at night, and having a screen-free zone in the hours leading up to bedtime can help them avoid being overstimulated.
Consult your loved one’s doctor
Other environmental, chemical, or physical factors could be playing a role in sundowning problems In Alzheimer’s patients. As soon as possible, contact your loved one’s health care physician to discuss possible reasons and treatments.
Hire a Caring and Experienced In-Home Caregiver
Care At Heart is here to assist you if you are a family caregiver in Philadelphia. Our in-home care staff has a wealth of experience and a genuine desire to help our customers and their families. It is our purpose to walk alongside you, relieve your stress, and share the burden of caregiving with you.
This isn’t something you have to do on your own. Call (610) 765-0497 to talk with a member of our staff if you need respite care or other support caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia.