| It's 5:00 p.m., and all of a sudden your calm, serene | | | | begin preparation for dinner. Taking care of husband |
| mother is now very agitated, angry, and maybe | | | | and children was her job. It was who she was. Now, |
| even combative. Nothing you do seems to help, and | | | | all these years later, she has Alzheimer's disease, and |
| quite frankly, you're nervous and maybe even | | | | with each passing day, more and more of her |
| frightened. It seems as if there is nothing you can do. | | | | memory is wiped away. Now sundown comes, and |
| Take heart; you're not alone, and there is help. | | | | she knows she should be doing something, but what |
| What your loved one with Alzheimer's is experiencing | | | | is it? That's why it's called Sundowners Syndrome. |
| is called Sundowners. It is very common for those | | | | But what can you do about it? How can you help? |
| with Alzheimer's disease to become increasingly | | | | There are actually several things you can do. And |
| agitated as daylight fades away into night. Why the | | | | things you can try. Here is a list of some of some of |
| agitation? | | | | the things that have been successful for others. |
| Let's use you as an example. Say you have a child in | | | | 1. Before darkness approaches, make sure the house |
| school, and everyday, you pick her up from school at | | | | is well lit. The brightness inside, reduces the feeling of |
| 3:30 p.m. You've been picking her up since | | | | time passing. |
| kindergarten, and now she is in the eighth grade. So | | | | 2. Buy mini blinds that are a bright color. This also |
| all in all, you've picked her up for the better part of | | | | gives the illusion of daylight. |
| nine years. How would you feel, if 3:30 arrived, and | | | | 3. Think of what your loved one used to do at the |
| you knew you had something important to do, but | | | | time she begins to get anxious. Was it cook? Take |
| you couldn't remember what it was? What if you felt | | | | her into the kitchen and give her something to do. |
| a strong urge to do something, and the later it got | | | | Who knows? It might calm her down. |
| the more agitated you became? And that's just after | | | | 4. Calming, less exciting activities as the afternoon |
| a nine-year habit. | | | | progresses. |
| Now, let's think about your mom. For years and | | | | Understanding what is happening to your loved one, |
| years, your mom took care of the house and your | | | | is the beginning of the solution. |
| dad went to work. Come sundown, it was time to | | | | |