Tips for reducing sundowning:
- Try to maintain a predictable routine for bedtime, waking, meals and activities.
- Plan for activities and exposure to light during the day to encourage nighttime sleepiness.
- Limit daytime napping.
- Limit caffeine and sugar to morning hours.
- Keep a night light on to reduce agitation that occurs when surroundings are dark or unfamiliar.
- In the evening, try to reduce background noise and stimulating activities, including TV viewing, which can sometimes be upsetting.
- In a strange or unfamiliar setting, bring familiar items — such as photographs — to create a more relaxed, familiar setting.
- Play familiar gentle music in the evening or relaxing sounds of nature, such as the sound of waves.
- Talk with your loved one's doctor if you suspect that an underlying condition, such as a urinary tract infection or sleep apnea, might be worsening sundowning behavior, especially if sundowning develops quickly.
Poor Joe. He's going to have such a hard time on so many of these suggestions. I wonder if he can even find a "loved one."