Memory Care Community: Understanding and Managing Sundowning in Loved Ones

Providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia has its unique challenges. One of the most common and often baffling changes families notice is sundowning. As evening approaches, your loved one may become more restless, agitated, or anxious, making daily routines more difficult for you both.

Though this can be frustrating, you are not alone. Many families deal with this concern, and there are ways to alleviate the stress and help your loved one during these times. In this post, we’ll discuss how memory care communities can manage sundowning for your senior loved one with memory-related issues like Alzheimer’s or dementia. 

What is Sundowning? 

Sundowning is a term used to describe a set of symptoms that includes confusion, anxiety, or agitation that often occurs in the late afternoon or evening in individuals living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. If you are living with someone who has sundowning, you may notice that they become more agitated or restless during the evening hours. They may pace, have difficulty communicating or interacting with others, or have a harder time falling asleep at night. 

Sundowning can also be disruptive to the patient’s sleep schedule, making it more difficult for them to get a good night’s rest. There is no definitive cause for sundowning, but it is believed to be a result of changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer’s or dementia. Some possible triggers for sundowning symptoms include fatigue, changes in light or darkness, and unmet needs.

10 Tips to Manage Sundowning in Loved Ones

Evenings can be tough for loved ones with memory challenges. But small changes like these in a memory care setting makes a big difference: 

Keeping a Consistent Routine

Structure and routine help minimize disorientation and provide stability and predictability for your loved one. Knowing when meals, activities, and downtime occur on a daily basis alleviates the stress of change. Evenings unfold more comfortably when morning and afternoon routines establish predictable patterns. 

Stability doesn’t mean strict routines; it just means fewer surprises. A regular schedule also allows caregivers to anticipate when energy is at its peak and when downtime is most effective. That familiar rhythm makes the evening transition more natural and less stressful for your loved one in Alzheimer’s & dementia care.

Limiting Daytime Naps

It’s natural to want your loved one to sleep whenever they feel tired, but too much daytime sleep can hurt their nighttime rest. If your loved one is napping late in the afternoon, they’ll have more trouble relaxing at bedtime. In a memory care community, naps are fine, but these communities try to keep residents engaged throughout the day with interactive activities. 

Puzzles, short walks, or folding laundry are all gentle ways to keep your loved one awake until the evening. Balancing rest with activity helps maintain nighttime sleep, which is important for reducing restlessness.

Encourages Light Exercise

Regular light exercise during the day can lead to calmer evenings and more restful sleep. Daytime exercise in a memory care environment doesn’t have to be high-impact exercise or calisthenics. Your loved one can start with stretching, chair yoga, or a walk around the gardens or through the hallways. Movement throughout the day helps with expending energy, sustaining appetite, and can help reduce agitation later in the day. 

Throwing a soft ball or dancing to some favorite songs can also work as both exercise and a happy, engaging activity. Gentle activity can also counteract restlessness and support seniors with fatigue-related problems.

Discouraging Caffeine and Sugar

Caffeine and sugar are perfectly fine in the daytime, but at night, they can make a person agitated and unable to sleep. People in dementia care are encouraged to avoid soda, coffee, and sugary snacks in the late afternoon or evening. Instead, they are being offered soothing options, such as herbal tea, fruit, or a small portion of whole grains. 

Excess sugar in the diet can cause spikes in energy followed by mood swings and irritability. It’s a good idea to avoid caffeine after mid-afternoon, as it can stay in the body for hours. A well-balanced menu of evening meals and snacks can promote better digestion, stable moods, and restful sleep at night.

Playing Calming Music

Music can set the tone for an evening. Gentle, familiar music can calm anxiety and relax your loved one before bed. Caregivers in an Alzheimer’s & dementia care community often play music to establish a peaceful mood for transitions, like after dinner or before bedtime routines. 

They opt for slow, gentle rhythms instead of loud, peppy tunes. Sing-alongs or quiet instrumentals are ideal because they’re interactive but not overstimulating. It can also be comforting to play your loved one’s favorite songs from previous decades. 

Brightening Evening Spaces

Lighting can have a major impact on evenings. As the sun sets, dark rooms can prompt agitation or anxiety in residents. You can assist by making living spaces bright and inviting through the early evening hours. In a memory care home, well-lit spaces allow residents to more easily identify objects and move about safely. 

Soft, warm lighting is ideal, and harsh fluorescent lighting should be avoided. Leaving the curtains open until sunset will allow light to transition more naturally from day to night. Always check the floor plans to see if spaces are designed with these features in mind.

Offering Familiar Comforts

Comfort items can be as simple as a favorite blanket, beloved sweater, or meaningful photo. A memory care community can offer familiar comforts to help residents ease into their bedtime routine without stress. Sensory familiarity calms anxiety and cues the brain that it’s time to wind down. 

A stuffed animal or pillow with a familiar scent near the bed can also provide comfort. These little details bridge the gap between daytime and nighttime activities. They make it easier for your loved one to transition to a different phase of the day.

Keeping Evenings Quiet

Keeping the environment as quiet as possible for someone receiving Alzheimer’s & dementia care can be extremely important, particularly during the evening. The hustle and bustle of daily life, such as loud talking, clanking dishes, or television playing in the background, may make nighttime a chaotic, stressful time instead of a peaceful time to unwind.

Try eliminating the noise in the evenings and replacing it with quiet conversation, reading to your loved one, or other low-key activities, such as knitting or sorting through items. Eliminating noise or creating a low-noise environment can help decrease agitation and confusion, allowing for a smoother evening. This does not necessarily mean no noise at all, simply a quiet environment that will cue your loved one that it is time to relax.

Serve Light, Balanced Meals

A large meal may lead to restless sleep. Therefore, dining lighter at night is prioritized in memory care communities. Options may include soups, vegetables, and proteins as opposed to fried or heavy meals. A balanced plate reduces the likelihood of discomfort, nighttime indigestion, and possibly even night wakings. 

Evening mealtime may also have an impact on setting the tone for the rest of the night. A slow-paced dinner helps the body and mind by providing physical and mental support. Smaller, healthier portions at night help residents to feel satisfied and comfortable while transitioning into sleep.

Use Gentle Night Lights

A completely dark room can be an anxiety-provoking experience for someone in a memory care home. But soft night lights can make them feel safe and comfortable. These lights will also help your loved one to find their way to the bathroom with less confusion or panic. Soft lighting can also prevent falls and is less disruptive to a peaceful sleep. 

Using motion-activated lights near hallways or bedsides might be the best option because they remain off until triggered by movement. Night lights are also a nice way to show your loved one that their environment is safe, and can make evenings seem less daunting.

Looking for a Safe and Relaxing Place For Your Loved One to Help Them With Sundowning Challenges? Explore Memory Care at Bristol Park, Amarillo

Evenings can be challenging. But they don’t have to be. In the right setting, with intentional routines and care, your loved one can have calmer evenings and better rest. At Bristol Park Amarillo, we design spaces and schedules to bring your loved one peace, familiarity, and comfort every day. Let’s show you how. Schedule a tour today.