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What exactly is “sun downing”?

Hope5757
Hope5757 Member Posts: 150
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in Caring for a Parent

And do I need to do anything differently if my MIL is now showing sundowners syndrome?

MIL lives with us and was diagnosed with middle mixed (Alzheimer’s/vascular) in Feb 2023.

Although she scored poorly on the processing parts of the neuropsych exam, she eats, showers and changes clothes without assistance. I prepare her plate, set up the shower and lay out her clothes. But, she handles all of the actual acts. She’s only been incontinent once and regularly attends physical therapy.

Over the last year, she’s shown steady decline. Her conversation lacks filters, her short term memory is unreliable and she is unable to make even basic logical leaps such as guessing the month is December because a Christmas tree is up; we’ve been buying/wrapping/shipping Christmas presents; and I’ve been regularly reminding her that we only have X number of days until Christmas.

Very recently, her confusion manifests much more in the evening. For example, last night after watching something on TV, she announced that when my spouse was born, he weighed 117 pounds. I mildly suggested that wasn’t possible and I could tell she knew something wasn’t right. But she clearly did not recognize that a 117 pound newborn was an impossibility (unless my spouse was an elephant).

Is increased confusion “sundowning”? She doesn’t show increased agitation; isn’t trying to wander after dark; and isn’t more anxious.

And if this is sundowning, does the fact she is sundowning mean I should be more aware or sensitive to anything?

Thank you

Comments

  • M1
    M1 Member Posts: 6,788
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    Sundowning refers to the phenomenon of confusion being worse in the late afternoon and evening. Circadian rhythms and light sensitivity are thought to play a role, but no one knows for sure. Turning on bright lights may help, and medications may help if she becomes agitated.

  • Hope5757
    Hope5757 Member Posts: 150
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    Thank you M1. And thank you also for how often you respond.

  • M1
    M1 Member Posts: 6,788
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    Maybe I'm just a blabbermouth Hope. Lonesome. Not enough to do except scroll the forum. Sorry, I'm kinda down on myself tonight.

  • DCCEPEK
    DCCEPEK Member Posts: 95
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/191545#Comment_191545

    Yea me too. You are a light to many please continue.

    I

  • mommyandme (m&m)
    mommyandme (m&m) Member Posts: 1,468
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/191545#Comment_191545

    M1, you are an amazing source of strength to all of us here and your partner and I’m sure all of your wonderful grandchildren (family). I’m so sorry for the trials and tribulations you’re having to endure. Please know how good you are in the midst of the worries and heartbreaks. Try to take good care of you today and be patient and kind to yourself too.

  • M1
    M1 Member Posts: 6,788
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    Oh goodness, bless you. It has been a bleak stretch. But you are right, my family is a huge help, those babies are the light of the world, and how lucky am i to have had a spectacular thirty year love affair with a wonderful person. I have more to be grateful for than i can say grace over. Lady Texan was the star at helping me remember that. I so appreciate the kind words. I am sick and scared but so are many others out there who have it worse.

    I did not mean to hijack the thread....

  • Hope5757
    Hope5757 Member Posts: 150
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/191958#Comment_191958

    You neither hijacked the thread nor should apologize. Merry Christmas M1. I hope you are able to spend a peaceful, joyful day with friends and family.

  • catminor
    catminor Member Posts: 69
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    My Mom is having sundowning; pretty serious episode last night at a restaurant, and then she spiraled further. It was so challenging, it brought me to tears. I'm anxious to talk with her new team of doctors about it, but it will be a bit before that happens, as I'm just setting up her new team after moving her across the country to be near me.

    I think it's going to be hard to help her with sundowning without medication, because she has never been a good sleeper anyway, and she's always been someone that stays up pretty late (11pm ish). But, I definitely see that her sundowning is worse when she gets less than 6 hours of sleep, so in that way maybe it's a bit predictable. I certainly will take strong note in regards to any activities after 5pm, if she tells me she didn't sleep well or was up at 3 or 4am.

    Also, I think I'm gonna both call the Alz Assoc hotline, and take 1 full day for myself this week. Gotta stay rested and take care of myself, or I'm gonna burn out early.

    Cat

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
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