Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating condition that affects not just the person with the disease but also their loved ones. Fortunately, there are some strategies to help your loved one deal with Alzheimer’s and even some ways that you can help them through the stages of dementia. One of these strategies is having them stay in skilled Alzheimer’s facilities in Colleyville, TX, with care services provided by a team trained to handle this type of care.
What Is Sundown Syndrome?
You may have heard the term “sundown syndrome” before, but what does it mean?
Sundown syndrome is a common symptom of Alzheimer’s and dementia that causes confusion and agitation in the evening. It can also cause people with Alzheimer’s to become more prone to wandering during this time of day, which can be dangerous for them if they are outdoors alone or are at risk of falling stairs or into other hazards. If you have concerns about your loved one wandering outside unsupervised during the day or evening, you should contact your family caregiver immediately.
Why Does Sundown Syndrome Occur?
Sundown syndrome is not a disease but a symptom of normal aging. As people age, their bodies become less efficient at regulating melatonin—the hormone that helps you sleep. This change in the body’s circadian rhythm can cause confusion or agitation when you’re trying to fall asleep.
The good news is that this issue doesn’t signal dementia or Alzheimer’s disease! The first step in addressing sundown syndrome is ensuring your loved one is getting enough sleep (at least seven hours per night). If they are not getting proper rest and continue to experience the symptoms of sundown syndrome after making adjustments to their sleeping patterns, talk with your doctor about treatment options like melatonin supplements or light therapy tools that may help regulate their circadian rhythms.
The skilled nursing community can help your loved one through the sundowning cycle with various services and support. These include:
- Help with bathing, grooming, dressing, and undressing. These tasks can be difficult for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Your loved one can rest comfortably in a secure setting while experts care for these necessities.
- Help with meal preparation, which means with proper supervision from the nurses at the skilled nursing center, your loved one can enjoy nutritious meals that are prepared according to their dietary needs.
- Medication management assistance for both Alzheimer’s disease and sundown syndrome. The medications used to manage Alzheimer’s or dementia symptoms can confuse and make it difficult for your loved one to remember how much they have taken – leading them down a dangerous path of overdosing on them. At a skilled nursing communitythey will have access to trained professionals who will administer medication regularly as prescribed by their doctor so that they never take too much at once again!
- Respite care for you as well as other family members who may be tending to your loved one’s needs at home
- Sleep management support to help ensure proper rest time during the day and night hours (the sleep pattern is often disrupted in AD patients)
- Socialization and stimulation activitiesthat encourage interaction between residents during mealtime or other scheduled events at the community (this helps offset any feelings of isolation due to memory loss)
- Caregiver support groups where caregivers can meet regularly to share their experiences, struggles, and successes.
In conclusion, it is important to remember that dementia and sundown syndrome is not the same thing. Your loved one will have an episode of sundown syndrome even if they don’t have Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. If your loved one does have Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, then you must work closely with a skilled nursing community like ours so we can provide them with the best possible care for their condition.
