Eldercare Resources

In the coming weeks, I want to discuss Sundowning Syndrome because more than 60% of adults who suffer from cognitive impairment experience a certain set of sundowning (neuropsychiatric) symptoms which makes caring for them even more challenging.

So, what is sundowners syndrome?

It is neuropsychiatric symptoms that affect many adults who suffer from late-stage Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Symptoms of sundowners syndrome include confusion, disorientation, irritability, restlessness, agitation, suspicious feelings, and a demanding demeanor. There is no test available to diagnose sundowners. Diagnosis is based on appearance and frequency of symptoms.

Watch your loved one for symptoms, especially during the late afternoon. Record your findings and talk with a doctor about your concerns. There is also no cure for sundowners. Very often, the symptoms of sundowners syndrome usually intensify as the syndrome progresses. Symptoms can become more regular and severe and might include delusions, paranoia, hallucinations, fear, and anxiety.

Five ways to help mitigate Sundowning Syndrome symptoms

Although there is no cure for sundowners, there are five things that have been shown to help with the symptoms:

1. PROVIDE A WELL-LIGHTED ENVIRONMENT. Adequate light can calm those suffering from sundowners and ease fears or confusion around their surroundings. Close window shades as evening approaches and turn on indoor lights.

2. MANAGE PHYSICAL NEEDS. Ensure your loved one eats well and is well hydrated. Control their pain needs as directed by a doctor. Help your loved one get more sleep.

3. PROVIDE A CALM AND PEACEFUL LIVING SPACE. Keep noise to a minimum, play relaxing music, or do an activity your loved one enjoys.

4. MAINTAIN A DAILY SCHEDULE. This will help your loved one manage expectations of what is happening.

5. CARE FOR YOURSELF FIRST. Caring for yourself reduces anxiety and promotes life balance. Emotions are attractors and when you are thriving your loved one will do the same. Next week, we will discuss strategies for caring for yourself.

My favorite thing to do as the owner of Comfort Makers is to help families to find customized, affordable, and life-enhancing caregiving solutions that can transform caregiving into a gratifying experience. If I can be of help, please contact our office.

–Katie
katie@comfort-makers.com | 503-369-2460

Here is a TRUTH; if funding care were not an issue, most older adults would elect to remain in their homes. However, sometimes being at home is not the safest nor psychosocially healthiest option.

In my work as a geriatric care manager, there are three main issues that most caregiving families deal with.

1. Where should care be provided; at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home.
2. Where to find the money to pay for long-term adult care.
3. How to manage in-home care especially when there are dementia and/or mobility issues.

After a level of care assessment, here is an option for Katy’s father. This could help him stay at home or delay the need for a move into a facility. Here are the action steps: 1. Ask the doctor...

This week is about a daughter named Katy from Florida. Her dad lives in Oregon, has incontinence and memory loss, and Katy, like many long-distance family caregivers, thinks that it is time to move into an assisted living facility. The problem is that Katy can’t be here, nor can she get here (COVID restrictions) to do the legwork and paperwork needed to move him, and, in the meantime, he needs around-the-clock care. What could Katy do?

n the previous weeks, I discussed what Katy (a long-distance caregiver in Florida with a dad in Oregon) could do to care for her dad. COVID-19 restrictions made it almost impossible for her to move her dad into an assisted living facility. I recommended the free level of care assessment offered by the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that sparked a few questions. So today is a good day to answer the question.

Last year, I had to relocate for work so my mother moved in with my brother and sister in- law. In the past few months, my mother has been struggling with heavy incontinence. Now my sister-in-law wants my mother to move into an assisted living facility because she cannot deal with the smell of urine on the furniture from my mom’s accidents. My mom is devastated about the need to move, are there other options?

The world is changing; we live longer than we ever have before and, by the year 2030, one in five Americans will be over the age of 65!

For aging adults and their caregivers, waking up to wet pajamas and bedding is not a great way to begin the day. The good news is there are many things you can do to reduce and even stop overnight leaks.

Here are a few simple things you can do to help reduce the risk of trips and falls in the home.

An unexpected hospitalization for an aging parent can be a stressful process for their adult children. Here are some steps you can take to ensure you are advocating for your elderly father or mother.