Memory care may be necessary for somebody with dementia as they get older. The longer an aging senior has been dealing with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, the more likely they are to face increased challenges, which may include Sundowner’s syndrome. Sundowner’s syndrome is a condition where frustration mounts during the evening hours. A person who is ‘Sundowning’ is experiencing extreme frustration, confusion, and possibly even aggressive tendencies during the evening hours. Assisted living is a wonderful memory care option.
It is often the result of the senior having too many things to do, getting overwhelmed, frightened, frustrated, and angry that they can’t do some of the things that had once been simple. In some cases, a person dealing with Sundowner’s syndrome isn’t even aware that they are getting to this point of frustration, lashing out at others, or getting verbally or physically aggressive.
Assisted living can help seniors dealing with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia minimize the risk of Sundowner’s syndrome. It’s important that family and friends recognize the difference between your average assisted living community and one that is focused on memory care.
An assisted living community can offer services for both those with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia and seniors who are not dealing with these challenges. When looking for an assisted living community as part of an elder care plan, just make sure they have experience with memory care.
When you find one, you can ask what strategies they employ to minimize the risk of Sundowner’s syndrome for those dealing with dementia.
You may learn that assisted living for memory care use some of the following:
1. They may turn the lights on earlier.
This is especially important when it comes to when Daylight Savings Time ends in the fall. However, turning lights on a little earlier in the day can make the transition outside from daytime to nighttime tougher to register. That could be beneficial for somebody who focuses on nighttime activities only when it gets darker outside.
2. They try to keep the senior’s days busy and evenings calmer.
People want to be happy and they want to do things. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the senior with Alzheimer’s being busy during the day. However, at a quality assisted living community, they will focus on keeping their daytime a little busier so the evening can be calm, with less stress and fewer things to try and focus on at once.
3. They may pay attention to caffeine consumption.
A senior with Alzheimer’s who is at risk of Sundowner’s syndrome should not be consuming caffeinated beverages or any foods that could trigger stimulus. Can an assisted living community ban somebody with Alzheimer’s from drinking coffee? No, but they could switch them to decaf or explain the benefits of drinking water instead.
4. They help seniors slow down as evening approaches.
A quality community may help the seniors stay calmer in the evenings by starting a movie, encouraging them to read, or helping them settle in the room earlier than they might be used to.
All of these strategies can be effective at helping to minimize the signs of Sundowner’s syndrome.
If you or an aging loved one is considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility for Memory Care Services in Marietta GA please contact the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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