Managing a Parent Stricken by Alzheimer's: A Comprehensive Guide
As the evening approaches, caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's can present unique challenges, particularly when it comes to managing sundowning symptoms. Sundowning is a condition characterised by confusion, restlessness, and agitation that often occurs in the late afternoon and evening. Here are some effective strategies to create a supportive environment for your Alzheimer's parent during this time.
1. Establish a Consistent Routine Maintaining a regular daily schedule can help reduce anxiety and regulate the person's internal clock. A consistent routine for waking, meals, activities, and bedtime can lessen sundowning behaviours.
2. Manage Diet and Sleep Patterns Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugary foods in the afternoon and evening, and limit naps late in the day. These changes can help prevent sleep disruptions that can exacerbate symptoms.
3. Control Lighting Brighten lights well before dusk to reduce shadows and minimise the impact of darkness. Using light therapy boxes may also help regulate circadian rhythms.
4. Reduce Noise and Stimulation Turn off or lower loud television, radios, and other background noises. Speak calmly and avoid overstimulating visitors in the evening to create a peaceful atmosphere.
5. Plan Gentle, Engaging Activities Light exercise, cognitive stimulation like calming hobbies or simple conversation, and avoiding overly demanding tasks can use up excess energy and reduce restlessness later in the day.
6. Offer Reassurance and Distraction Gently redirecting attention with soothing activities such as listening to music or looking at familiar photos can help ease agitation.
7. Monitor Medications Some drugs can worsen sundowning symptoms. Work with healthcare providers to review and adjust medications if needed.
Creating this supportive environment—combining routine, lighting, noise control, engaging activities, and medical oversight—can significantly ease sundowning symptoms and improve quality of life for both the person with Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.
In addition to managing sundowning symptoms, it's important to remember that Alzheimer's patients can become paranoid, and keeping their environment clean, quiet, and distraction-free can help prevent agitation. Frequent medical attention is required for an Alzheimer's patient as they can incur infections and allergies easily.
When dealing with an Alzheimer's parent, it's crucial to focus on the feelings and primary intentions behind their communication, rather than their words or sentences. Avoid talking to them condescendingly and keep things simple to avoid overloading their mind with a series of questions or suggestions.
In serious cases, family members are advised not to leave their Alzheimer's parent unattended. Wandering is common for dementia patients and they can get lost easily. To prevent an Alzheimer's patient from wandering away from home, make sure the doors are always locked, install a password-protected door lock, and place a signboard on the door reminding them of their boundaries.
If you find yourself drawn into arguments by an Alzheimer's parent, take a step back, breathe deeply, and look at things objectively. An Alzheimer's patient may not be able to discern the content of what you say but can sense how you feel about it.
In all situations, it's important to consult a certified medical professional if the situation with an Alzheimer's patient gets out of hand. A professional caregiver can make dealing with an Alzheimer's patient easier as they are trained for such challenging tasks.
Outdoor activities like walking, relaxing in a park, people watching from a distance, and playing board games with fellow elderly can keep an Alzheimer's patient feeling happy and upbeat. Having a daily routine can help an Alzheimer's patient remember to perform activities of daily living.
Lastly, remember that Alzheimer's disease leads to a gradual deterioration of the brain cells of the patient, resulting in behavioural changes. Alzheimer's disease alters the circadian rhythms of the patient, potentially causing agitation, confusion, restlessness, anger, or anxiety during late afternoons (a condition known as sundowning). By understanding and implementing these strategies, you can help create a more comfortable and supportive environment for your loved one with Alzheimer's.
- The management of an Alzheimer's patient's health and wellness requires frequent medical attention due to their susceptibility to infections and allergies.
- Science has identified neurological disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease to be mental health issues that require specialized strategies for symptom management, such as maintaining a balanced diet, managing sleep patterns, and creating a calm, distraction-free environment.
- Besides sundowning, Alzheimer's patients may exhibit paranoid behavior, necessitating a clean, quiet, and uncluttered living space to help reduce agitation caused by excessive stimulation or confusion.
