Sundowners syndrome is one of the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It is basically when someone with these disorders gets confused later on in the day. If you have a loved one who has sundowners syndrome, there are some tips that can help you to reduce the symptoms.
Keeping Dinner Easy and Light
One of the best tips for prevention and reduction of sundowners syndrome is to keep dinner easy and light. You should avoid giving your loved one heavier foods during dinner. They should have portion servings with light foods. You should also make sure that dinner is early enough that your loved one has time to digest the food before they go to bed. In addition, they should not have any caffeinated drinks or you should at least reduce the amount they do have.
Keeping Them Busy
If your loved one is experiencing sundowners syndrome, you should keep them busy. Give them things to do. The challenging things you give them to do should be given earlier on in their day. Later on in the day lighten their workload. Just keep them busy. This prevents their mind from getting distracted and irritable.
Simplify the Environment
Think about everything that is in your loved one’s home. What is in their bedroom? What is in the main rooms? Is there a purpose for everything they have? If not, should you get rid of it? If there is an extra chair, for instance, that isn’t getting used, you can get rid of it to make more space and to have fewer distractions, as well. Mirrors are another thing to get rid of, as many people with dementia or Alzheimer’s don’t recognize themselves, and may think an intruder is in their home. Simplifying the environment can make things easier for someone with sundowners syndrome.
Keeping Things Quieter
Having peace and quiet in your loved one’s home is one of the best things to do to prevent and reduce sundowners syndrome. In addition, a peaceful and quiet environment makes it easier for your loved one to fall asleep when they should be sleeping.
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