When is a good time to adjust the lights from 3pm to 11pm when is the best time to turn the lights down so they can go to a bed at reasonable time without thinking it's morning all night? And what's the best way to entertain them to avoid sundowning?

Oh, that must have been so scary for her and you! It may seem like she's still capable of driving but in reality it probably isn't. Although like most anyone, she'll be reluctant to give it up. Maybe you and some of her friends can offer her rides? It's so very difficult to deal with a debilitating, chronic illness, which is what dementia is. The biggest problem with cognitive decline is that judgment and reasoning are usually the first things to go so the problem then is how do you work with someone who isn't making rational decisions? I'm sorry she is dealing with this as a fairly young age. As a friend, you may want to have a discussion with her about how scared you were during that drive and how scared you are for her and God forbid if she hurt someone else. A very difficult situation, I know! Thanks for sharing.

There is no way I could possibly offer her a ride. This woman cannot sit still. She is in her vehicle everyday with someplace to go to. From sunrise to sundown. Unfortunately, she lies to her husband and says she is with me all the time. Her husband will have to physically take her keys and vehicle away from her. I just returned from a trip to vegas with her. I controlled everything. She has entered the phase of childlike behavior. So sad to see her like this. I've know her since we were kids. Still appreciate the advice.

Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I do hope all goes well for your mother and your family. It's true that as long as you know what the situation is, you can do a better job of handling it. I certainly don't blame you for being scared after seeing your mothers behavior change. I certainly would be too! Best wishes for you, your mother and your family.

Oh thank you for the comment. It's so difficult when you don't know what is happening but now that you know, hopefully you can deal with it better. Support groups and counseling can help and of course any kind of tool that can help to keep your mom from wandering. seniorsafetyadvice.com/tools/dementia-wandering-prevention/ All the best.

I am laughing and yes, she (Stella) is a hunk of a cat. When I adopted her she was about 2 years old and I called her my Lane Bryant girl. She's just a big girl! She's 16 now and so sweet but never was able to shed those pounds. And hopefully you will never have to experience sundowning, either yourself or in someone you love. Thanks for the giggles.

Thank you and I am so glad this was helpful. Sundowning is such a difficult thing to understand but once you know what it is and what's happening, hopefully it's easier to work with.

Oh thank you, I am so glad that this helped. You're a great daughter to care for your mother. She's very lucky to have you. Just remember to give yourself time away and not get overwhelmed by her care. The oxygen mask goes on you first.

Oh that is a great suggestion - thank you so much! If you don't mind - I'll use that in an article I'm writing about sundowning. And also, I'm sorry your husband has Lewy Body Dementia and that you are both living through that. I know it can be extremely hard. Thanks again for your comment and for watching!

A heating pad with a timer on it might be helpful too.

I am sorry you are going through this with your father. Yes, I agree it's extremely frustrating. I wonder if it's possible for you to get some respite help during that time. Even if it's just two nights a week to give yourself a break? It's usually much easier for someone who is not emotionally attached to deal with situations like this. I hope things get better soon for you.

Thank you for your comment, and I'm glad to hear that the video was helpful to you. It's wonderful that you're dedicated to keeping your wife in a familiar and comfortable environment for as long as possible. Dealing with the ups and downs of a progressive disease like Sundowning can be challenging. I do hope that some of the strategies I mentioned help. Don't forget to take care of yourself too.

Ohh, thank you! I worked with so many older folks who suffered from Sundowning. It's such an interesting issue.

Thank you for your comment and kudos. It certainly is a topic many caregivers of adult seniors tackle with and I was happy to explain it.

I'm so sorry to hear that! Unfortunately, KZfaq shows whatever ads it wants to and we don't have control over them. Thank you for watching!

Oh, thank you for sharing this. Hopefully it can help others in a similar situation. I am so sorry that you went through that with your father-in-law but how wonderful it was of you to care for him as you did. Both he and your husband are fortunate to have you.

Oh I am sorry that your husband (and you) are going through all of this. My mother had pulmonary fibrosis as well so I know how difficult that can be. If you haven't yet contacted hospice I would recommend it. They were so extremely helpful for my mother and us. A patient can be on hospice for years, so take advantage of all that they offer. Prayers for you both.

Thanks for sharing! And a support group would be very helpful - you never know what great tips and ideas others in similar situations come up with! Music is great. I know someone who uses their Alexa to play The Meditation Station and they ask her to play it for 2 hours. Not sure if that would work for you but it's an idea.

MY MOM.IS HARD OF HEARING SO MUSIC WINT WORK, AND I CANT KEEP THIS UP IM EXHUSTED, SHE DOES NOT SLEEP, SO.IM AWAKE ALL NIGHT.

@@kathyleslie5948 I hope you found something that helps. I'm at a loss myself, Tried everything!

Would she use headphones or earplugs?

Oh thank you for the kudos. I hope it does too.

You are welcome! Hope it was helpful for you.

Thank you! I hope it was helpful for you.

You are so welcome! I hope the information was helpful.

You're welcome!

Thank you so much! Hope it was helpful.

Good question. It depends on how sundowning is manifesting in him. I've had patients with sundowning who are extremely irritated and lash out, others who are fidgeting for hours. For some people, making the environment peaceful helps. I like to listen to the Meditation Station on my Alexa device, so that might be an option for you. Working on a simple task like folding towels or organizing a box of buttons or anything simple might also be an option. Playing the piano might work, if that's something that he used to do. I agree that distraction is a good response to sundowning, the key is finding the thing that can distract him from what he is feeling or thinking as he goes through this.

You're welcome 😊 Hope it was helpful.

Well, not exactly true but it is better to be prepared I suppose. I worked many years in rehab and nursing home facilities and I can tell you it's not all gruesome as you say. It is inevitable, for sure. We can only do our best.

Oh I am sorry that you are going through this, truly. I remember patients like that, it was difficult for the families to see their loved ones acting so erratically. I would certainly suggest that you first look at finding a support group because just knowing that you are not alone (believe me, you are not) and to see how other people are dealing with similar issues can really help. Also, counseling is a great tool to help you get through this time. Hope things work out well.

I agree, it's very difficult to find support groups in some areas. That's why going online can be so very valuable. You can try Facebook groups, that may be helpful, although it's not the same as online ones where they meet via video. Another option is to find a mental health counselor who is willing to start and lead a support group.

Oh sorry, I didn't speak clearly enough. I said "disruptive", not "destructive". Basically, the type of incidents that can be disruptive are anything from crying to screaming, increased confusion that can lead to argumentative behavior, heightened emotions, etc. Some people become very paranoid and suspicious, they may begin accusing others in the house of stealing their things. Some become restless and want to leave the house thinking that they are maybe going home (when they already are home), etc. There are many ways that these symptoms can manifest. Any of these can of course be disruptive to the family that they are living with.

Oh, well since they're bedbound, that certainly helps to keep them from wandering away which can certainly happen during a sundowning event. But if they are trying to get out of their bed, you may need to install a bed alarm, a video camera for sure and of course, keep as many items away from the bed as possible just in case he/she does get out and falls. Turning down the lights, maybe playing soft music may help to calm him/her down. Avoid loud noises, anything that can agitate him/her. Aromatherapy may help too. Sometimes, tactile stimulation may help. That means using massage or washing with a washcloth. You may even put an Alexa device in the room and ask Alexa to read a story. The sound of a calming voice may work. If you have a Kindle account with Amazon you can ask Alexa to read a Kindle book too. www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GFLNSCCV7ELR9SF5 I hope this helps. Let us know!

Oh that is funny! I wonder if it does, we'll have to see if we can find any case studies on that. Thanks for sharing.

It depends on the person. My mother in law starts around 630pm.

Thanks for your comment. So glad you found something that works for your mom.

How much dosage of seroquel you are giving to your mother if you dont mind.tia

A great comment! Well, CPTSD (Complex post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health condition, not a neurological disease. So, although some symptoms may seem similar, the causes of these are very, very different. In dementia, the person's nerve cells in their brain are literally breaking down and losing connections. (i.e. neurodegeneration). There's no reversing this, there's no pill or therapy or surgery or anything that we know of as of yet that can reverse this or even stop it from eventually taking over the entire brain. Now, this is not to say that CPTSD is not a contributing factor to dementia, it may be for some individuals. www.grouporttherapy.com/blog/can-dementia-be-brought-on-by-emotional-trauma Past emotional traumas and biological factors will of course come into play at times. There are even some who say there is a link between unresolved trauma and dementia. www.uclahealth.org/news/do-unresolved-trauma-and-dementia-have-link I personally am a big believer that unresolved issues due to trauma can very easily develop into chronic illnesses, especially later in life. It doesn't happen to everyone, of course, but I do believe that there is a definite link. I am a big fan of the Eden approach and it can certainly help individuals who are in long term care to lead a more fulfilled life. Of course, it can certainly help those in the early to mid stages of dementia but it's not a complete solution. Here's a link to information on the Eden approach www.edenalt.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/About-The-Eden-Alternative.pdf The most difficult aspect of dementia is that it affects different parts of each person's brain. So, it's very rare (if ever at all) that two people with dementia will ever exhibit the same symptoms. That's why it's so important to treat each individual according to what they can and cannot do any longer. Night terrors are not associated with Sundowning. Night terrors are a sleep disorder and again, not a neurological disease. Of course, someone with dementia could have both, sundowning and night terrors. But they are two different issues. Dementia is so very complicated and so individualized simply because, as I said, it depends on what parts of the brain are deteriorating and the speed at which the disease is progressing. With near death experiences, I have to say that maybe that could contribute to signs of fear and anxiety in someone with dementia. But, from what I've seen after 12 years of working with patients afflicted with all forms of dementia and head injuries that the fear of losing oneself is the most frightening thing. Chemically speaking, the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias often cause the depletion of neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, whose levels are directly related to mood and calmness. So, it makes sense that someone with dementia would show increased signs of agitation, depression, anxiety, etc. On top of that feeling yourself slip away, not remembering things, mistaking one object for another, loss of independence, etc. all contribute to emotional outbursts. It's difficult to imagine what someone with dementia might be going through. One thing is for sure, when interacting with a person with any form of dementia, it's important to keep the language as simple as possible without being demeaning. It's important to listen more than speak. It's important to keep the environment as much the same as possible and avoid loud stimulating noises. It's also important to stop assuming that they think like someone without dementia. You can't reason with someone who has dementia, so throw that idea away. You may not even be able to bargain with them, depending on the stage of dementia they are in. They simply are not able to process information like they used to. The brain is breaking down, bit by bit. A lot of patience is required by family members, friends and caregivers. I hope this answers your comment.

Sundowning is often so difficult for caregivers to manage. I hope I helped in some way. Thank you.

Oh, you are so right!! Maybe you can put them on your birthday and Christmas (or holiday) list for this new year!!

Do you mean is Sundowning affected by what you eat? No, unless there are underlying issues like Diabetes, blood pressure problems, etc. If the person with dementia is hungry (i.e. not eating enough) then the sundowning issues can be exacerbated. If the person is diabetic and his sugar levels are off, then that could make it worse, if he/she just ate a huge meal and their blood pressure is too high or too low that could also make it worse. Basically, if what they are eating (or not eating) affects their mood, then yes, it could make it worse. But food itself is not a cause for sundowning. No more than food would be a cause for dementia. At least that's my experience.

Hmm, I did at the beginning of the video. Maybe you missed it.

Well, it depends really on what part of the brain is being affected. Sundowning normally occurs in the early evening, hence the term. But yes, cognitive decline of some kind can happen at any time of the day. It can fluctuate throughout the day and night. Every individual is different depending on the set of cells and parts of their brain that are being affected.

Thanks for the question! Well, some medications actually cause these symptoms and some can certainly help. It all depends on how the person reacts to the meds, what other meds they are taking and how severe their sundowning symptoms are. Of course, a physician would now better. I am not a doctor so I would not know, except what any other lay person would know. But you can get some information on this in this article by Dr. Leslie Kernisan - betterhealthwhileaging.net/medications-to-treat-difficult-alzheimers-behaviors/

@@SeniorSafetyAdvice Thank you for you quick reply. My brother is going to start using a medication that helps with anxiety, perhaps it will help him with this. The doc that prescribed is a geriatric doctor.

Well, you are partially correct. Alcohol is not a stimulant but it can have some effects of a stimulant. And of course, it does depend on the person. But, in the video I should have clarified that so thank you for pointing that out.

Mood enhancer.

A history of abusing alcohol often factors into unique to the person with Dementia expressive behaviors. Narcissists have higher risk of developing an addiction. Please be aware that what sometimes goes along with a long history of alcohol abuse is a secondary addiction to sexual behavior too.