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Sundowning and Frontal Temporal Dementia.

KezRay
KezRay Member Posts: 1 Member
in I Am a Caregiver (General Topics)

Nan is 93 and has had Dementia for about 14 years now. Has slowly gotten worse rather than sharp declines.

We are now starting to get sundowning creeping in. Its a run of 7 days of it so far, I'm literally so exhausted i have no idea how i am functioning. She gets up about 1am thinking its 8am, and insists she needs to be up or is hallucinating there is someone in her room. Even when you open curtains and show her its dark, she tells me i am a liar and its daylight. It takes me hours to settle her.

I've have just finished a round of talking therapy, had CBT, waited 2 years for that. I don't know what to do now. I don't get time away from nan to go for a walk or to do outside activities. To do those i have to take her with me :(

Does anyone have any good suggestions on what i can do to cope with this? I am on my own with her. No family help. i live with nan, work full time (luckily mostly at home with reasonable adjustments for work), we get the max care we are allowed from social services.

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  • SusanB-dil
    SusanB-dil Member Posts: 962
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    Hi KezRay - welcome to 'here', but sorry for the reason.

    Do check out adult daycare at least a day or more a week. We found they really aren't much expense. Also - do tell her doc what is happening with the sundowning and agitation, not able to redirect. A medication adjustment may be in order. There are adjustments and meds available without being 'zombied'.

  • MN Chickadee
    MN Chickadee Member Posts: 1,030
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    Definitely consult her physician. It could be a med change would help her sleep at night. Let the doc know just how challenging this is and how you will not be able to go on if the night waking continues like this. Is she sleeping a lot during the day instead?

  • Emily 123
    Emily 123 Member Posts: 980
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    I agree with others, and would also say that if the sundowning can’t be resolved then it might be time for memory care if possible. As much as we’d like them to stay with us, sometimes the needs or behaviors outstrip what can reasonably be provided, especially if the caregivers are trying to juggle their own family and work. It’s never an easy decision.

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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