A “disorientating” dementia symptom could become more noticeable this weekend. Experts have warned that when the clocks change, people with dementia could experience “anxiety and distress”.
On its website, the Alzheimer’s Society explained: “For the majority of people, changing the clocks can be a minor nuisance, but for people living with dementia it can be disorientating and sometimes cause anxiety and distress.
“As daylight begins to start earlier and end later, people with dementia may find it difficult to differentiate between 6am and 6pm. This can disrupt their circadian biological clock and make it hard for them and those who care for them to get enough sleep.
“Not getting enough sleep can cause the person to become overtired, which can cause low mood and affect their ability to think clearly. They may also become irritable and distressed.”
And experts at Dementia UK issued advice on how to help manage sundowning as the clocks change.
Tips for managing sundowning
- Use distraction techniques: go into a different room, make the person a drink, have a snack, turn some music on or take them out for a walk
- Ask the person what the matter is. Listen carefully to their response and if possible, see if you can deal with the reason for their distress
- Talk in a slow, soothing way
- Speak in short sentences and give simple instructions to try to avoid confusion
- Hold the person’s hand or sit close to them and stroke their arm
Tips for preventing sundowning
- Introduce an evening routine with activities the person enjoys and try to keep to television and radio stations set to something calming and quiet
- Follow a daytime routine with activities the person enjoys
- Try to limit their intake of caffeinated and alcoholic drinks – try offering them caffeine and alcohol-free alternatives
- Try to limit daytime naps to encourage them to sleep well at night
- Close the curtains and turn the lights on before dusk to ease the transition into night-time
- Cover windows, mirrors and glass doors with a sheet or curtain – reflections can be confusing for people with Dementia UK
- Avoid large meals in the evening as this can disrupt sleep patterns
If you need advice or support on managing sundowning, or on any aspect of living with dementia, you can contact Dementia UK’s Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 or email helpline@dementiauk.org.
If someone you know is displaying signs of dementia but is not diagnosed, you should speak to a GP.
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