Sundowning in Dementia: Practical Ways to Bring Peace to Evening Hours

When the sun goes down, many families caring for a loved one with dementia notice something changes. Early evening hours that should feel calm can instead bring restlessness, agitation, or confusion. This pattern—commonly known as sundowning—is one of the most challenging situations families navigating dementia face.

If you’ve ever felt anxious as the day winds down, wondering how your loved one will react tonight, you’re not alone. At Full Bloom, we walk with families through these difficult moments every day, and we’ve gathered practical tools to help you create more peaceful evenings.

What Is Sundowning?

Sundowning is a term used to describe dementia behaviors in the evening, such as:

• Increased confusion or disorientation
• Agitation, pacing, or restlessness
• Heightened anxiety or fearfulness
• Irritability or even aggression

Experts believe sundowning is related to changes in the brain’s internal clock, fatigue from the day, and reduced lighting as night approaches. Whatever the cause, the impact on both the person living with dementia and their care partner can be exhausting.

How Families Can Ease Sundowning Symptoms

The good news: there are practical steps you can take to ease these evening challenges.

1. Create a Calming Environment

• Keep lighting consistent: As the sun sets, turn on warm, soft lamps to reduce shadows and confusion.
• Minimize noise and clutter: Turn off the TV if it’s overstimulating and keep the evening environment quiet and simple.
• Stick to familiar spaces: Guide your loved one to the rooms they feel most comfortable in.

2. Establish a Soothing Routine

• Serve dinner earlier in the evening and avoid caffeine or alcohol late in the day.
• Create wind-down rituals like listening to calming music, gentle stretching, or reading aloud.
• Offer reassurance with familiar cues, such as a favorite blanket, family photos, or a warm cup of herbal tea.

3. Support Emotional Needs

• Offer gentle validation instead of correcting confusion.
• Stay close by to provide a sense of security—sometimes your presence is enough.
• Redirect anxious energy with a simple activity like folding laundry, looking through a photo album, or a short walk.

4. Plan For Rest

• Encourage a short rest earlier in the day to prevent evening fatigue.
• Maintain regular sleep and wake times whenever possible.
• If nighttime wandering is an issue, consider motion-sensor night lights for safety.

Evening Hours Don't Have to Feel Overwhelming

Sundowning in dementia can make the end of the day feel overwhelming—but there is hope. By adjusting the environment, building calming routines, and responding with empathy, families can bring more peace to the evening hours.

At Full Bloom Memory Care, our Memory Care Partners are trained in strategies that ease sundowning behaviors, offering both your loved one and your family greater comfort and support.

If you’re struggling with sundowning, let’s talk. We can help you create an evening plan that makes nights more manageable and mornings brighter.

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