Q:When we stopped to pick Mom up from the nursing home recently to bring her back to our place for the weekend, the attendant who brought her out to the car warned us that Mom had developed Sundowner’s syndrome and that we should watch out for her in the evenings.
I know that Mom gets confused occasionally, but why wouldn’t she? She is 87 years old. But this whole thing about Sundowner’s syndrome is new to me. Can you tell me anything about it?
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A:I can share general ideas about Sundowner’s syndrome, but I would be remiss if I did not first advise you to consult with your mother’s personal physician to learn more about her specific condition.
Sundowner’s syndrome refers to a condition seen mainly in the elderly. They become confused, agitated and disorientated either late in the afternoon or early in the evening, just about the time that the sun is setting.
Those who get Sundowner’s syndrome already have other forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, but it is not always the case. Some who have lost their hearing or who have developed visual impairments have been known to get it, as have diabetics and others who are in extreme pain.
Patients with Sundowner’s syndrome wander off and get lost in their confusion or let their agitation disturb and interfere with the lives of others.
It’s important to encourage them to relax and settle down, and the trick is to find out what is triggering the agitation and confusion and trying to resolve the underlying discomfort.
At times it is just a matter of a little hunger that can easily be resolved with a snack before supper. Sometimes too much is going on around them and they need to be encouraged to retreat to a quieter setting where they can get reoriented. Pain can trigger Sundowner’s, as can dark shadows caught in an evening’s twilight.
U.S. researchers have suggested that the biological clocks of people with Sundowners have fallen off track, and at least part of the confusion is not knowing when to eat, sleep and have fun.
Your biological clock is that little part of you, ticking away throughout the day, that tells you when you should be tending to your basic needs. It regulates hunger, fatigue and boredom.
People can become confused when it is not working properly and aren’t sure when they can look forward to eating, sleeping and playing.
Researchers have attempted to restore the biological clock by flooding those with Sundowner’s with bright, fluorescent lights at the start of the day. The assumption is that the excess light will reinforce the natural daylight and kick off the biological clock early in the morning. The clock will then stay on track for the rest of the day.
It is an interesting proposition, but I would not advise trying it until you have had a chance to talk to your mother’s physician.
Jacklin Andrews is a family counsellor from Saskatchewan. Contact:
