Sundowners Syndrome - Now I Understand My Mother's Behavior: General: BraveHeart Women

Sundowners Syndrome - Now I Understand My Mother's Behavior Posted Dec 1, 2009 02:57 PM
1 Attachment sundown picture.jpg (2.3 K) Over Thanksgiving, my sister informed me that our mother is exhibiting signs of Sundowners syndrome. As a health care professional, she has become quite familiar with the symptoms. I had never heard of the term before. My parents still live on their own. Dad is approaching 90 and can still bowl a 204. Mom is almost 87 and bowls in the 180's. I am amazed at how well they are doing. However, none of us three children lives anywhere near them to really see what happens in their day-to-day life. Dad is now seeking assistance in caring for Mom. After some quick research, I have found that some immediate steps that I can take are recommending that my mother gets medication for her urinary tract infections; that I can call in the early evening to reset her mind; and that brighter lights can uplift her mood as the sun goes down. If you have experience with Sundowners Syndrome, please share your tips. With love, compassion and empowerment, Amelia Animal Lovers Community
In: Healthy Living Permalink Share and Enjoy: Del.icio.us Facebook Digg

5 Comments

Lisa,

Thank you for reflecting on the bright side of this syndrome.

When parents choose to stay in their home town rather than move to where their children are, those moments that we are together become even more cherished.

You have a special gift of caring for others.

With love, compassion and empowerment,

Amelia

Dear Amelia,

Thank you for sharing your own experience with this health care issue, & how it has affected you.

I appreciate the research link also. It backed it up 100% from what i know from working in the Health Care Field.

I have worked in private health care, & in facility's for the elderly. Also my mother-in-law had Alzheimer's for the two years that she lived with us, until she got cancer & passed away.

I have been on both sides of caring for others loved ones, to seeing what it does to families as they lose sight of who that person is, or was. To who they are now, or were before they passed away.

It is a very hard thing to watch from both sides. It took a toll on my sister-in-law, & my husband.

To a certain extent it ran me thru so many emotions, but was easier due to the fact that i did not know her as a younger woman. I only knew the one that came thru the door two years before she died. I really liked her. And in a lot of ways i was very close to her. She was a beautiful woman, & it was difficult to see her deteriorate right in front of our eyes. So full of life to life less, & the Light has gone out to where she was not there anymore. I miss her beautiful smile.

Do cherish your time together with loved ones.

Blessings to you & your family,
Lisa Bull

Michelle and Linda,

Thank you for your insights. I am looking forward to the teachings. I believe we are still in the early stages.

Amelia

My mother also suffers from Sundowners. It was quite interesting that it took the rest of the family years to see that she was slipping.

At the time, I did live fairly close and I remember taking her to my niece's wedding. She would restate things a lot, but when she asked who the bride was, I had to tell her, it was her Granddaughter.
Then she asked who was the man next to her, and I had to say, it was her son, my brother.

Coming home, I asked her to stay with me that night, I was very tired and offered her a bed, rather than drive her 28 miles home.

When I awoke, she was gone, and had driven herself home. When I called and asked her what happened, she said she woke up in someone's house and that her purse was gone.

Then the family realized we needed help. She is now in an assistive living environment and has been for 9 years. She is almost 90 now, but we can not understand anything she says, or communicate with her.

It is a terrible disease, and one that eventually robs them of everything.
Michelle

When caring for my mother in her last year of life, I learned to be very respectful of the evening "fade" as we came to call it. She just enjoyed everything much more early in the day. She was more alert and communicative. Evenings were perfect for watching TV - even re-runs of the re-runs - and not very good times to make decisions of any importance.

Of course, I am fond of daylight hours and this stage, and find that I would rather get up at 4:00 AM, than work past 6:00PM - especially if there is thinking involved!

Cherish your parents - Sundowners and all... some of their greatest teachings are yet to come....

Linda

LET IT BE FUN ! B-)

Search\|Advanced Search in
BraveHeart Women » BraveHeart Women Blogs » General » Amelia's Blog » Sundowners Syndrome - Now I Understand My Mother's Behavior
Welcome Guest	LOG IN \| Personalize \| Print \| Help

BraveHeart Women

BraveHeart Women Blogs

General

Amelia's Blog

Sundowners Syndrome - Now I Understand My Mother's Behavior

Sundowners Syndrome - Now I Understand My Mother's Behavior

Sundowners Syndrome - Now I Understand My Mother's Behavior