Sleep Disturbances & Sundowning

With the progression of dementia often comes issues with sleeping and a related issue called sundowning. Sleep issues are often made up of a lack of deep sleep, waking up in the middle of the night, or having difficulty falling or staying asleep. Sundowning is known as physical and mental exhaustion and heightened confusion, disorientation, and distress as the sun sets and the day ends. In one page from the Alzheimer’s Association, those two outcomes of dementia are explored, with tips and strategies for caregivers to cope with these common symptoms of dementia progression in their loved one. In another page, Mayo Clinic defines sundowning, lists factors that contribute to the associated confusion, and includes tips to lessen its occurrence and effect.

Read about these helpful caregiving approaches in Sleep Issues and Sundowning and Sundowning: Late-day confusion.