How to Prevent Sundowning

For people with dementia and Alzheimer's disease, "sundowning" occurs when an individual confuses the time period between the end of day and the beginning of night. Although sundowning is not a disease, the symptoms can include disorientation, fatigue and deterioration of memory as the day goes on. While it is difficult to prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia, you can prevent symptoms of sundowning by taking necessary precautions.

Instructions

• 1

  Remove caffeinated drinks, such as coffee, tea and caffeinated soft drinks from the home or care facility. Some chocolate candy bars can also contain traces of caffeine. Caffeinated drinks and foods can cause restlessness and the inability to sleep at night for individuals suffering from sundowning syndrome.

• 2

  Exercise on a regular basis. According to the February 2007 issue of "Neurology," a study of elderly 65 years and older who exercise 15 minutes per day were least likely to develop Alzheimer's and symptoms of dementia and sundown syndrome. For older individuals, exercise can be in the form of household chores such as gardening, yard work, walking or climbing stairs.

• 3

  Think positively. Because the syndrome is mostly neurological, positive thinking can play a big role in decreasing the chances of sundowning. Depression can speed up aging in the bran and cause negative repercussions such as neurological brain damage. Positive and stress-free thoughts are exercises for the brain and can make the brain healthy and prevent hypertension, which leads to sundowning.