Closing up the house

Grandot

My DH starts “closing up the house” as he calls it around 6pm every night, while it is still light. He wants everything locked up and all the blinds down. He likes it dark inside. This is really not a problem but an irritation. I’m just curious if this is a typical response from those with Alzheimer’s.

Goodlife2025

Sundowning yes it is a very real behavior in Alz…. I even let my spouse shut it all down go to bed and then I get back up as soon as she is asleep - like right now 🤣

SDianeL

yes. Google the term sundowning for dementia patients and you will find an explanation. It’s his brain causing him to do it.

Chris20cm

Yes it seems to be fairly common. DW closes the drapes, puts a clothes pin on them in the middle, and pushes furniture on the ends against the wall. I installed mini blinds on the living room and the dining room picture windows to alleviate her fear but she still thinks there are shady characters in our tiny village peeking in through the cracks. She has been doing this for eight years.

I understand her fear in a way. If I was losing my cognitive and memory abilities, I would be scared too.

harshedbuzz

@Grandot

It's interesting. Sundowning is a very common behavior starting in moderate dementia. What's often suggested to caregivers is closing curtains and blinds before dark as a way to lessen the triggers for their PWD. Paranoia is common in dementia and many PWD misinterpret reflections in mirrors or windows (after dark) as other scary people.

HB

Belle60

Yes this is pretty common. Closing all the blinds before it got dark used to drive me a bit crazy. I hate a dark house love the light. But I got used to it. In my kitchen I have shutters where he can close the bottom half but we can leave the upper half open for sunlight. But I have not extended those to the rest of the house. My DH also checks the doors constantly and pretty much cannot sit still or talks constantly -not really saying anything. I just tune it out.