Sundowning is when someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease becomes more confused and restless, usually in the late afternoon or evening. They might wander, have outbursts of words, or feel more upset, even though it might seem to happen suddenly. This behavior is linked to how their brain works and processes thoughts.
To help someone with sundowning, it’s important to keep a regular routine and create a calm environment. Doing relaxing activities can also help. Talk to their doctor to check if anything else, like pain, medicine side effects, or an infection, might be causing the agitation. Understanding and managing sundowning can make evenings more peaceful for everyone involved.
