"Sundowning"

That's it.

Thank you. I still do not understand what causes sundowning. Can anyone explain why it happens?

Thanks Snowy
Lyn

Hi Sonia.  I'm sorry that your stepfather is experiencing Sundowners now.  I have befriended a lady in a local nursing home, and about one month ago, she also began experiencing symptoms of Sundowners Syndrome.  Much like your stepfather, she started becoming extremely agitated when it became dark, and during the middle of the night, she also believed that people were entering her room and stealing her things.

I did some research after my friend developed Sundowners because I also wanted to know why she was having so many problems at night.  For the most part, it is not yet clearly known why Alzheimer's patients have increased problems at night.  Recent research has speculated that the damaged nerve pathways in Alzheimer's patients disrupts the part of the brain which control circadian rhythms.  Circadian rhythms control the sleep - wake cycles in our brains.  So, as a result, the internal clocks in the Alzheimer's patients are very messed up.  People without Alzheimer's are tired and sleepy at night, but the reverse seems to happen to the Alzheimer's patient.  That feeling of sleepiness is replaced with feelings of extreme agitation.

Also, because Alzheimer's patients tire easily, they often become more agitated at night, when they are most tired.  After my friend in the nursing home developed Sundowners, the doctor suggested that she take more naps during the day, in an effort to curb her increased agitation at night.

In addition, it is believed that Sundowners is exaggerated by a lack of sensory stimulation at night.  During the day, the activity and noises can sometimes provide a secure feeling to the Alzheimer's patient.  In the nursing home that I visit, almost all of the Alzheimer's patients sleep well during the day, possibly because they feel more secure when there is activity around them.  During the night, however, it is usually very quiet and dark, and that can lead to increased restlessness in some patients.   

My friend in the nursing home also is very scared that she will be left alone.  This feeling has only been intensified now that she has developed Sundowner's.  It seems like she doesn't understand what's happening to her, and that is leading to even more problems of agitation. 

I hope that your stepfather is able to find some peace soon.  I'll be thinking of both of you, and take care.

Thank you luvdog and to everyone else who replied to my post.  My step-father has been in the nursing home for over a week now.  Some nights he seems okay while other nights he is totally confused.  It is so hard to decide if we should keep him there because he has so many lucid moments.  The reason he was placed there in the first place is because he fell 3 times over the weekend and got a concussion.  After having him taken to the ER in an ambulance, the doctors decided it would be better to keep him in a home because he was so dizzy and could not walk very well.  To this day, he says he is still dizzy but seems to be walking fine.  The problem is that my mother is 66 and they live in a split level house with 3 dogs (I live 2 streets away).  We are scared he will fall down the stairs or something like that.  They have had seperate bedrooms for many, many years now and my mother is scared he will start wandering off during the night.  His short term memory is gone and gets confused very easily.  One day he took a butcher knife to his room and was trying to cut his toenails with it when my mother caught him.  They have not had a good marriage over the past 18 years, he cheated on her numerous times, spent all of their money, never saved a dime for retirement and neglected to get any type of insurance after he was forced to retire because of the Alz.  He was a control freak so my mother never knew any of this until it was to late.  Now she is stuck having to care for a man she no longer loves but feels guilty about leaving him in the nursing home.  It is a terrible situation and only seems to be getting worse as the days progress.  Right now, Medicare is paying for the home but in another week they will stop.  We are trying to see if they qualify for Medicaid but are concerned about the monthly allowance they will leave my mother with.  Things just seem to be getting worse and worse.  His daughters will have nothing to do with him and will not help in any way (because of the way he has treated them their entire lives). 

Bump

It just means that I am "Bumping " the thread back up for ppl to see thats all
Sorry about that
How are you doing
Lyn

Sonia
I bumped up a thread called "Nursing Homes.....Check it out " and if you look in there you will find the NH he is in ..........
It rates the homes and quality of care from staff how the residents are treated ect.,,,,,I was in total shock when I saw these reports .
NO hun they wont ever stop saying they want to go home , they will continually want that or if not that then something else .My mom was like that at the end ( she passed away 9 mths ago) but I had her at her house and looked after her ( I am retired geriatric nurse)
I now am looking after my dad ( step) but he was GOOD and always was great with us kids when he came into my life at 8 yrs old as well he loved mom dearly and was not mentally nor physically abusive .
How is your mom holding up thru all this hum it has to be hard,why can the children he had forget what happened yrs ago and HELP her out now
I truly believe God see's it all and acts accordingly ya know
I am proud of you for going there each day even though he has hurt you and there is resentment
there .......still you go .......
I really would check out the NH he is in something ios not sitting too well within me about the care he is NOT getting .....yes clothes especially under garments need and should be changed daily ...Please read the thread about the homes and find the one he is in you might just be suprised and even as shocked as I was
Hoping you post often and if you need to talk my info is under my name feel free to add me to yahoo or MSN I would enjoy talking with you
You are a special person as is your mom
God Bless and keep you both in His arms
Luvs
Lyn

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