Sundowning: Managing Late-Day Agitation, Confusion, and Anxiety in Dementia
Dear Carol: My dad is in mid-stage Alzheimer’s and dealing with his late-day anxiety is driving me to the edge. For most of the day, as long as I remember what I’ve learned about caring for someone with dementia, he’s reasonably easy to satisfy. Yet once we get to late afternoon, he begins to pace and mutter, sometimes wringing his hands. I’ve talked to his doctor about this behavior, and she says it sounds like what they call sundowning. Apparently, for Dad at least, there’s no good option for medication that won’t cause other problems. Can you point to reliable resources where I can learn more? – AU
Dear AU: I’m sorry you and your dad are going through this extremely tough stage. You were right to contact his doctor. Easy answers are hard to come by in dementia care, but a physician visit, while not providing a magic answer, is still a necessary step in the process. The doctor can attempt to rule out problems with current medications, look for new…
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