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Tips for Sundowning

SDianeL
SDianeL Member Posts: 3,266
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edited April 27 in Caring For a Spouse or Partner

I see many posts about sundowning but not tips to prevent the behaviors associated with it. I saw this today and thought it might help someone.

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Comments

  • Chance Rider
    Chance Rider Member Posts: 280
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    Thanks, @SDianeL, this is very helpful. We’re not “there” yet but going to print this out as a reminder.

  • blacksparky
    blacksparky Member Posts: 237
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    Great information. Thank you

  • Jeff H
    Jeff H Member Posts: 167
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    The no caffeine is what worked for me. I switched my DW from diet Pepsi to caffeine-free diet Pepsi. That made all the difference. My DW was hooked on diet Pepsi, but when I switched to caffeine-free diet Pepsi she didn't notice. #3 is great too.

    Thank you SDianeL for this post.

  • persevere
    persevere Member Posts: 220
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    This is very good Diane. I already do many of these but this is good reinforcement.

  • jgreen
    jgreen Member Posts: 332
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    Thank you, @SDianeL

  • djr5958
    djr5958 Member Posts: 2
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    Thank you for this. It's very informative.
  • Groovy's Girl
    Groovy's Girl Member Posts: 20
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    I don't really know if what's happening at our house is sundowning…some nights, he lays right down and sleeps all night. Some nights, he sits on his side of the bed forever and gets up, walks around the house, comes back and sits down, gets up and looks out the windows, sits back down and plays with his rings, smooths the sheets, smooths the pillow case. …and ….repeat. No matter how many times I ask him to lie down….doesn't matter. He'll lie down when he wants to. Last night, I fell asleep sometime around 11 and I'm pretty sure he didn't lie down until 1:15. We have a routine and a set bedtime, no caffeine, and no rhyme or reason for the nights he sleeps and the nights he doesn't.

  • Jeff H
    Jeff H Member Posts: 167
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/271317#Comment_271317

    Has your DH been prescribed any sleep aids? My DW has been prescribed Trazodone for sleep at 100mg. I give it to her about an hour before bedtime. After about an hour of the fidgeting, she then sleeps soundly through the night.

  • mwoolley
    mwoolley Member Posts: 20
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/75908/tips-for-sundowning

    Thanks for posting that! I am printing it out and will tape it up in my kitchen for reference. Very helpful!

  • trottingalong
    trottingalong Member Posts: 977
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    That was a wonderful and informative post.

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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