I keep hearing this expression but I don't know what it is. I do know that DH will spend a lot of time (several times a day) looking at the calendar. Also, the clock or his watch. But that's generally early in the day.
In the evening, he paces. Seems restless. If I ask him what he's looking for or if anything is bothering him, I don't get much of an answer.
HI Mawzy, this is something I happen to know a great deal about. Lynn has suffered with it the past few years... sundowning refers to people who become increasingly confused and agitation towards the end of the day and into the night. Sundowning isn't a disease, but a symptom that often occurs in people with AD.
Lynn was always grumpy in the day, but come afternoon he was a real bear! Here are some site if you care to look up more information...
Thanks very much. I did check out the links and I think I've got it. He does follow me, gets anxious if I'm out of the room for too long. He does not mimick me. He likes to hide around a corner and wave at me. I just wave back. If I discount the fact that he's 82 years old, it is kind of cute. Not very cute but sorta....
You've described shadowing in your post Mawzy. You may be dealing with sundowning too if he gets even more agitated as the day goes on. LOs who get angry and violent are much more likely to get that way later in the day. LOs who have sleeping problems tend to be up all night or off and on all night if they are sundowning.
I'm not dealing with any of that at this point, although I've got some minor shadowing going on, but not the hide around the corner type. From what I've read here and elsewhere if you have real sundowning you can get medication for that and you need to because you will end up sleep deprived and that is what kills caregivers.
You need to take sundowning seriously because it is dangerous for the patient and for the caregiver.
My husband had sundowning too but it was not cute in shape, size or form. He would get to angry and aggitated, would slam doors, lock himself in our bed room or would barricade the door in the upstairs bedroom. You can take just so much screaming at before you start loosing your sanity. His Dr. put him on seroquel (sp?) and it helped somewhat. When he starting cornering me and shoving, that is when I (and his children) knew other measures had to be taken. We placed him in a memory care facility and the sundowning still continues. On a number of my visits with him, one of the CNA's had to calm him to keep him from coming at me. Other times, he is so good and how I wish I could bring him back home but right now that is just not possible.
Please do take it seriously now before it gets worse.