2 Common Causes of Nighttime Difficulty for Seniors with Alzheimer’s
Posted by: Donna Wrabel February 26, 2015 in Alzheimer’s Care, Alzheimer’s Care in Houston TX
Alzheimer’s Care in Houston, TX – Sundowner’s Syndrome and Caffeine Consumption can Cause Problems in the Evening for Seniors with Dementia
For a caregiver caring for an elderly loved one with Alzheimer’s, there may be a number of challenges that arise over time. One of those challenges if often a difficulty in the evening, whether it’s increased irritability or having a hard time falling asleep at bedtime. There can be several different causes for struggles in the evening; here we will discuss two common ones: Sundowner’s syndrome and caffeine consumption.
Sundowner’s syndrome is a situation in which an individual who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s begins to exhibit increased frustration, anxiety, and even physical and verbal outbursts, mostly in the later afternoon and evening hours. Researchers have determined that Sundowner’s occurs during these times of the day because that’s when more activities are taking place. Eating dinner, getting ready for bed, getting undressed, and much more are far more common during the evening hours and that flurry of activity can increase anxiety and frustration on the part of the elderly individual.
Caffeine may also impact certain aspects of Sundowner’s and even the ability to fall asleep and get a good night’s rest for the senior. Caffeine is a stimulant and it can remain in the body for up to 8 hours. That means a cup of coffee that is finished at 2 PM in the afternoon could still have caffeine circulating throughout the body at 8 PM, 9 PM, and even 10 PM. As a stimulant, caffeine can increase activity within the brain, but not in a positive way for somebody with dementia.
Providing proper care for somebody who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s means looking at ways to reduce activity and anxiety in those later evening hours. If the senior has difficulty falling asleep, it’s best to encourage him or her to cut back on their coffee or tea consumption, as well as soda, during the afternoon and evening hours.
Getting a person to cut back on their coffee consumption may be a challenge, but when it is explained how it can impact sleep, causing the senior difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep throughout the night, they may be able to encourage them to cut it out for one or two weeks. When positive results are seen and experienced, it can make it easier for them to completely cut out caffeine during those afternoon and evening hours.
Another way to reduce the anxiety that can cause Sundowning is to change the schedule of the day so that there aren’t so many activities at all once. Taking a bath earlier in the day could help to alleviate the feeling of having so much going on at the same time.
Family members who are dealing with Sundowner’s syndrome or a difficulty for their elderly loved one to fall asleep should consider hiring a professional Alzheimer’s care provider. A home care provider with experience can make a world of difference for an individual with dementia.
