Sundowners Syndrome – What is it and how can you help?
Spring is in the air and this Easter weekend, at 1am on Sunday, clocks in the UK will jump forward by one hour as we enter British Summer Time. The majority of us will be looking forward to the longer days of summer, but for anyone suffering from Sundowners Syndrome, our clocks ‘springing’ forward might not be so welcome.
Sundowners Syndrome is a psychological condition that affects some people suffering with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The term ‘sundowning’ is used due to the timing of a person’s confusion. Patients with Sundowners Syndrome may not show any signs of dementia at all during the day, but during the evening, often as the sun sets, they start to experience symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, agitation and even anger. The clock change and the longer days can add to this confusion.
Sundowners Syndrome is usually associated with early stage Alzheimer’s, but it can also appear in older people in unfamiliar surroundings or recovering from an operation. In these cases it is believed to be triggered as a side-effect of pain relief medication. Reported symptoms include anger, violence, crying, agitation, fear, depression, pacing and restlessness.
Research has yet to reveal what causes this syndrome. A few theories are being researched, but they are yet to be narrowed down to a definitive answer. Some experts believe that accumulation of sensory stimulation throughout the day can cause the individual to become overwhelmed and cause stress. Others say it is caused by a hormonal imbalance during the night, or believe that it is anxiety caused by the increasing darkness and the inability to see. Researchers have also theorised that hunger, a drop in blood pressure after a meal (which temporarily takes oxygen away from the brain), or changes in glucose levels in the blood after eating in people with diabetes, may bring on this agitation and confusion.
Registered carers at Otus Live-in Care are familiar with Sundowners Syndrome and have a number of strategies they can apply for effective care. Here are some of their tips:
• Get a routine in place. An active morning and a rest at lunchtime will help to avoid over-stimulation in the evening.
• Record the patient’s diet. When you keep an eye on which foods are being consumed, you might be able to see a link between certain foods and the appearance of symptoms. The ‘trigger’ foods can then be eliminated from the diet.
• Be calm. Keep noise and activity to a minimum in the late afternoon and evening. Keep the TV or radio volume low and don’t have visitors at this time of day, to reduce the risk of over stimulating the patient.
• Invest in a light box. By keeping rooms well-lit and providing a light box (usually used for treating seasonal affective disorder) might help to reduce symptoms.
• Find the triggers. There might be one specific thing that happens every single day that causes the symptoms. Preventing the trigger could stop the symptoms.
• Talk to the GP. If symptoms get worse, seek a GP’s advice. A change of medication could help or the GP might be able to suggest supplements that could reduce the behaviours.
If you think that a parent or relative could be suffering from Sundowners Syndrome, Otus registered carers have found a book called ‘Sundowners Syndrome – a Care Givers Guide’ published by Sundowner Facts very helpful. For details, click here.
Please feel free to contact the Otus Live-in Care team on 01403 710119 at any time for a ‘no obligation’ chat about our services. We’d love to be of help to you, and to answer any questions you may have.