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Sundowning?(3)

LaurenB
LaurenB Member Posts: 211
100 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Likes
Member
I think that I just witnessed my LO's first sundowning experience.  I video called her at 7:30 pm and she was eating dinner.  She said it wasn't a bother, she was "just eating breakfast" and "my aren't you and your kids up and ready to go so early!  What are your plans for the day?"  Obviously she mistook 7:30 pm for 7:30 am and it was a bit grey/overcast at the time.  I wish that I could get my LO's caregiver onboard with this information so that he'd be better prepared for managing her symptoms in advance rather than always reacting.  Thanks for reading.  I just needed to get this out to the universe and off of my brain.

Comments

  • MimiMinder
    MimiMinder Member Posts: 44
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Comments
    Member

    Hi Lauren!

    I know how unsettling these episodes can be. Sharing with others helps, but it still hurts.  

    I've got to wonder, though, since I know the caregiver is the spouse, where was he during all of this? Nighttime is prime time for someone with dementia to not be alone. But, hey, you know that. It's like preaching to the choir.

    Hang in there!

  • LaurenB
    LaurenB Member Posts: 211
    100 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Likes
    Member
    Thanks Mimiminder .
  • star26
    star26 Member Posts: 189
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Comments
    Member
    This can happen after waking in early evening from a long nap. No dementia required.
  • abc123
    abc123 Member Posts: 1,171
    Eighth Anniversary 1000 Comments 5 Care Reactions 5 Likes
    Member
    It’s always upsetting to witness our LO’s confusion. This may not have been sun downing at all though. My LO thinks it’s early morning each time she sits down at the kitchen table. She’ll ask me how long have I been up and why so early. I just go along with it.
  • sunnydove
    sunnydove Member Posts: 85
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Comments 5 Care Reactions 5 Likes
    Member

    What abc123 said. My mom thinks it's morning whenever she walks down the stairs because it's the first thing we do in the morning to go out and get the paper. 

    I do have ClearClocks for her that say what time of day it is. For example, right now it says "Wednesday Evening 6:40 pm June 2 2021" Other times of day it will say morning, afternoon or night. 

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
Read more