What is sundowning? Symptoms, causes, timing, and what helps
Sundowning is the late-day rise in confusion and agitation that many people living with dementia experience. Here's what it looks like, why it may happen, and what helps.
Practical, research-informed guides for families living with sundowning, agitation, wandering, and the everyday challenges of dementia care.
Why late-day confusion happens, how to calm it in the moment, and how to make evenings easier.
Sundowning is the late-day rise in confusion and agitation that many people living with dementia experience. Here's what it looks like, why it may happen, and what helps.
What to do in the moment an evening episode starts — how to approach, what to say, what to avoid, and how to bring your loved one back to calm.
Most of what prevents a hard evening happens earlier in the day. A practical routine for light, naps, meals, activity, and a calm evening that can reduce sundowning.
Sundowning is a familiar evening pattern. Delirium is a sudden change that needs a doctor. Here's how to tell them apart, and what to do if you're not sure.
Why a person living with dementia asks to go home when they're already there, what to say in the moment, and how to keep them safe if they head for the door.
Everyday approaches for agitation, communication, wandering, and connection.
What causes agitation and anger in dementia, how to calm things down in the moment, how to stay safe if someone becomes aggressive, and when to involve the doctor.
Simple ways to make conversations easier and kinder: what to say, what to avoid, how to use body language, and how to handle the same question for the tenth time.
Why people living with dementia wander, the warning signs to watch for, practical ways to make your home safer, and exactly what to do if your loved one goes missing.
How to respond to the feelings behind confused words instead of correcting the facts, with the techniques, example phrases, and an honest look at the research.
How sharing old memories with photos, music, and familiar objects can bring comfort and connection, plus practical ideas you can try at home tonight.
Looking after the person doing the caring.
How to recognize when caregiving is wearing you down, and the concrete steps, services, and people that can give you a break before you hit empty.
Hamton calls your loved one in the voice of someone they trust, using validation, reminiscence, and gentle redirection to guide them back to calm.
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