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You are here: Home / Common Questions / What Causes Sundowners and Sleepless Nights

What Causes Sundowners and Sleepless Nights

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 What Causes Sundowners

sleep-less-nightsWhat is Sundowners?

Sundowning is often used to describe peculiar behavior of someone with Alzheimers during the evening hours when the sun has set and nightfall begins.

Often, in middle to late stage Alzheimer’s the person with Alzheimer’s dementia or other dementias may become restless and confused or disoriented during the evening hours.

It can last from early evening until late into the night.

==>> When my Mom had Sundowners it would often last till the wee hours of the morning, long after I had gone to bed <<==

Those with Sundowners can become agitated and possibly delusional as they often roam the house or moan and sob for many hours. If they are able to unlock doors and go outside, some patient’s have wandered out side and lost their way.

At times of sundowning, my Mom would not respond to soothing or assistance or even acknowledge that I was speaking or near her, and she seldom remembered the miserable night the next morning after she awoke.

My mom would be totally inconsolable during nights of sundowners. She would sit on the edge of the bed and rock herself, sobbing and crying so loudly that I feared the neighbors would be awakened by her frightful sobs.

There was no soothing her, as I did try in the beginning. I often had the feeling that she peered right through me, as though I wasn’t in the room at all.  As the sundowning continued and worsened, I found that leaving her alone (with the light on/off at her preference) was the best I could do.

  Sundowning doesn’t happen every night

==> but is very disturbing when it does happen <<==

We added new bolts to our doors that were taller than she could reach for fear that she would attempt to walk out of the house during one of these times.  It is a very difficult time for the caregiver as well since there is nothing you can do to improve their situation.

And with my Mom, if you tried to help her it only increased her agitation. The best I could do to help Mom was to be quiet, close the door to her room and allow her the time to grieve or do whatever she needed to do for her own mental distress. The only saving grace to me was that she had no recall of the previous night’s horror the next morning.

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Filed Under: Common Questions, LATE STAGE, MIDDLE STAGE, What are the Signs and Symptoms Tagged With: Cry at night, sleepless, sundowing, sundowners Sleepless nights

Comments

  1. Tiffany says

    03/13 at 3:03 pm

    Thank you for sharing! Yes , all you can do is let them safely have their space.

    Reply
  2. Treva Dawkins says

    02/14 at 7:34 pm

    This disease causes your loved one to be extremely sensitive. If they pick up on your frustration I think it confuses them because their out of control with in them selves

    Reply
  3. Treva Dawkins says

    02/14 at 7:24 pm

    My husband usually has those episodes at least once every three months or every two months . I’ll give him his meds . Talk in a soothing voice and redirect his attention to anything besides leaving. It’s very daunting, but I always think abt how he feels and figure out how to really get inside and reassure him it’s ok . Then I’ll proceed to take his clothes off ,because by this time the meds have taken affect and I finally get him to bed . It is really challenging, but you have to be patient ., and cry later…..

    Reply
    • Sandysgingham says

      02/15 at 6:16 am

      Treva, your suggestions are spot-on. If you stay calm and treat him gently it works every time.

      All the best for you Treva.
      Sandy

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