Our Assisted Living for Sundown Syndrome Provides Safety and Security

When the evening comes, your loved one starts pacing the room nervously. You may notice their dementia symptoms becoming more pronounced. These signs may lead to heightened confusion and anxiety–sometimes to the point of yelling. This pattern, known as sundown syndrome, is a common occurrence in individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Assisted living for sundown syndrome is an important element in keeping your loved one safe, helping them feel more secure and less anxious. Just as importantly, an assisted living community in Shallotte like Coastal Pointe can give you peace of mind, knowing that the one you love has readily available help.

At Coastal Pointe, our memory care unit is ideal for those who have dementia-related issues. Through our assisted living for sundown syndrome, we provide supervision for your loved one in an environment that is calming and secure. Our employees have extensive training on how to specifically help those who have dementia. If your loved one needs care that you can no longer provide, we invite you to take a tour. 

Let’s take a closer look at “sundowners,” its symptoms and how our assisted living community in Shallotte can help.

How Does Assisted Living Help Those Experiencing Symptoms of Sundown Syndrome?

There are many ways our Shallotte assisted living community can help those with sundown syndrome. We’ll examine a few ways:

  • Scheduling: It’s important for those with sundowners to stick to a regular schedule. In our memory care units, we have a controlled environment where we can help residents establish and maintain a normal routine.
  • Getting sunlight: Light is essential in managing sundown syndrome. To support our residents, we ensure they spend time by a window for natural light or enjoy supervised outdoor time to benefit from sunlight exposure.
  • Being physically active: Our residents can participate in appropriate exercises, whether it’s chair aerobics or another activity. However, we do not overload their schedules, as too much activity can have a negative effect.
  • Having a nutritious diet: In assisted living, we’re able to meet any dietary requirements—and for those with sundowners, this involves avoiding caffeine, coffee or cola later in the day. 

What Environmental Factors Are Adjusted to Help Sundowners?

We understand how the environment, especially lighting, can significantly impact individuals with sundown syndrome. That’s why we carefully assess and adjust the surroundings as needed to support our residents with memory care needs. These include:

  • During the day, we want to ensure our residents with sundown syndrome are exposed to bright light. When dusk arrives, we turn on lights to minimize any shadows. Sometimes, shadows can cause anxiety and confusion for those with Alzheimer’s. 
  • A peaceful environment is also very important, so we strive to be sure that there are no loud background noises. However, in some cases, white noise can relax those who struggle with sundowners. 
  • Television—particularly certain images—can be upsetting for those who have this form of dementia. If watching TV, we will be mindful of what they are viewing. 
  • Minimizing clutter and the number of people in a room can also be helpful. 

Are There Staff Members on Duty During the Afternoon to Assist Sundowners?

Absolutely! We know that “sundowners” can have a profound effect on our residents, and that’s why we always have staff members available who have been specifically trained to help those with sundown syndrome. 

One of the main advantages of the memory care units in our assisted living is that there is always someone on duty to help with any health-related issue that may arise. 

Assisted Living for Sundown Syndrome Is Vital to Ensure the Health and Safety of Your Loved One

If your loved one has sundown syndrome, we don’t have to tell you how worrisome and upsetting the symptoms can be. Those with sundowners are at greater risk of getting hurt, becoming anxious or depressed, or even wandering. 

A secure, safe memory care unit staffed by caring employees with specific training means that you can rest assured your loved one is getting the help they need. Does your loved one need care that you can no longer provide? Are their signs of dementia making it dangerous for them to be at home? Do you live in fear of them leaving the stove on or getting lost?

At our Coastal Pointe assisted living community in Shallotte, we offer the peace of mind you need. We invite you to take a tour. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming your loved one into our family. 

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Sources:

Alzheimer’s Disease Research, “Tips for Managing Sundowning,” https://www.brightfocus.org/resource/tips-for-managing-sundowning/ 

Cleveland Clinic, “Sundown Syndrome,” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22840-sundown-syndrome 

Mead MN. Benefits of sunlight: a bright spot for human health. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Apr;116(4):A160-7. doi: 10.1289/ehp.116-a160. Erratum in: Environ Health Perspect. 2008 May;116(5):A197. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2290997/ 

National Institute on Aging, “Coping With Agitation, Aggression, and Sundowning in Alzheimer’s Disease,” https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-changes-behavior-and-communication/coping-agitation-aggression-and-sundowning