Sundowing And Alzheimers Disease Essay - 1563 Words

SUNDOWNING AND ALZHEIMERS DISEASE nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sundowning, or sundown syndrome are terms that have been used for over 20 years to describe the reversal of day and night which often occurs in Alzheimers and other dementing illnesses. (2) Those who are impacted are often called Sundowners and they act as if their biological clocks have reversed their day and night cycles. Some are able to function on little sleep throughout their 24-hour day cycle. Some individuals stay up all night and will then continually doze off during the day. This alteration in the sleep-wake cycle is not necessarily permanent and they may revert to earlier patterns of sleep, or may sleep for increasing periods of time. (1)†¦show more content†¦nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;5) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The routine noises can be a source of security for the Alzheimers person. Comforting noise, such as talking and music may no longer be present and may cause panic. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;6) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Shift changes in facilities often occur at this time and the increase in activity may cause confusion. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;7)nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The person may be afraid of the dark and may be making noises to fill the emptiness. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;8) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Changes in barometric pressure. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;9) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The brain centers that trigger waking and sleeping schedules may be damaged by Alzheimers. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;This condition is often harder on the care giver than it is on the persons with Alzheimers. Care givers often find themselves exhausted. The online articles quot;Sundowning and Sleepingquot; and quot;Sundown Syndrome and the Elderlyquot; provide some steps that can be taken to lessen the effects using a coordinated approach by family members and health care providers. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;1) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;It may be possible to make part of the house so safe that the person can be up andShow MoreRelatedAlzheimer’s Disease is the Most Common form of Dementia3129 Words   |  12 PagesAlzheimer’s Disease â€Å"What is Alzheimer’s disease (AD)?† Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia that affects an individual’s memory, cognition, and behavior disturbances that ultimately diminishes their quality of life.1-2 Dementia is not a specific disease it is a general term for a variety of symptoms that affect memory and intellectual thinking that causes difficulty in our tasks of daily living.(5) The confusion between these two terms is extraordinary. It’s helpful to think