dementia Archives - Deckchair Care

October 29, 2023October 29, 2023

Understanding Sundowning: A Guide for Carers

Introduction

Sundowning is a complex phenomenon that affects individuals living with dementia, and it presents unique challenges for both caregivers and care agencies. In this blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of sundowning, explore its impact on individuals with dementia, and provide practical tips for care agencies in Cheadle to effectively manage this condition.

What is Sundowning?

Sundowning, also known as “late-day confusion,” is a term used to describe a range of symptoms that tend to worsen in the late afternoon and evening. It is a common occurrence in individuals with dementia, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease. The exact cause of sundowning is not fully understood, but it is believed to be influenced by a combination of factors including changes in the brain, disruption of the internal body clock, and environmental triggers.

The Impact of Sundowning on Individuals with Dementia

Agitation and Anxiety: Sundowning often leads to increased restlessness, anxiety, and agitation. This can manifest as pacing, fidgeting, and expressions of distress.
Confusion and Disorientation: Individuals experiencing sundowning may become more disoriented and have difficulty recognizing familiar people or places.
Aggressive Behavior: In some cases, sundowning can result in aggressive or combative behavior, which can be distressing for both the individual and their caregivers.
Sleep Disturbances: Sundowning can disrupt the sleep patterns of individuals with dementia, leading to increased sleep difficulties at night.
Communication Challenges: During sundowning episodes, individuals may find it harder to communicate effectively, leading to frustration and potential misunderstandings.

Managing Sundowning: Tips for Carers

Establish a Consistent Routine: Maintaining a regular daily routine can provide a sense of structure and predictability for individuals with dementia, potentially reducing the occurrence of sundowning.
Ensure Adequate Lighting: Adequate lighting, especially during the late afternoon and evening, can help minimize confusion and disorientation. Consider using soft, ambient lighting to create a calming environment.
Provide Comforting Activities: Engage individuals in activities they find comforting and enjoyable, such as listening to soothing music, engaging in light exercise, or participating in sensory activities.
Monitor Environmental Triggers: Identify and mitigate potential triggers that may exacerbate sundowning, such as loud noises, unfamiliar surroundings, or disruptions in routine.
Encourage Relaxation Techniques: Teach and encourage relaxation techniques like deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, or gentle massage to help individuals calm down during episodes of sundowning.
Offer Emotional Support: Compassion, patience, and understanding are essential when caring for individuals experiencing sundowning. Provide reassurance and emotional support to help them feel secure and at ease.

Conclusion

Sundowning is a challenging aspect of dementia care that requires specialized attention and understanding. By implementing the above strategies, care agencies in Cheadle can create a supportive environment that minimizes the impact of sundowning on individuals with dementia. With a compassionate and proactive approach, care providers can significantly improve the quality of life for those they serve.

Remember, every individual is unique, and it may take time to identify the most effective strategies for managing sundowning in each case. By being observant, adaptable, and dedicated, care agencies can make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by dementia in the Cheadle community.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

December 1, 2020January 13, 2021

Make Christmas Easier for people with Dementia

Christmas can pose difficulties for the 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, but there are strategies that can help.

NHS England has this advice on how to make Christmas easier to cope with for someone with dementia.

Put decorations up gradually so it doesn’t come as too much of a change
Help people who are frail or living with dementia feel included by getting them to assist with hanging a bauble or other simple tasks
Spread out family visits to keep things low key and familiar
Don’t overload on food – a full plate can be difficult to tackle for somebody with dementia who might have eating difficulties
Be flexible with planning – be prepared to change plans if something isn’t working

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

May 22, 2019May 22, 2019

Talking with Someone with Dementia

It can be difficult for people without dementia to engage with people that have. People living with dementia can find it hard to communicate.

It’s important that the environment you talk in is conducive to a good chat. Try to minimise background noise as people with dementia can become easily distracted.

Try to establish eye contact and be on the same level as the person you are talking to. This will help them pick up on visual cues about the conversation. People with dementia won’t move or talk at the same pace as you, so take you time and speak slowly and clearly.

People with dementia can often remember feelings but not what has caused them. An effective way to start a conversation with someone living with dementia is to really look at their mood and comment on it, for example ‘You look happy today’ or ‘You seem worried today.’

Keep sentences short to make it easier for a person with dementia to follow you. Think of a subject meaningful to you both. Be a good listener and give them time to think and respond. For those with short term memory loss it is easy to forget the beginning of a conversation.

Having a visual aids can really help people with dementia stay focused. Pictures and objects will help. For example have the medication with you if that is what you need to talk about. If it is about a family member, have a picture of that family member with you.

There are lots of online resources to help start conversations or just help the dementia suffer relax and reminisce. For example: https://www.deckchaircare.co.uk/blog/music-website-help-dementia-suffers/

For those living with dementia, their long-term memories will be precious and often still vivid to them.

Work, childhood, music or food are all great topics of conversation.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

May 7, 2019May 7, 2019

New type of dementia identified

Dementia is not a single disease, but is the name for a group of symptoms that include problems with memory and thinking.

According to new research published in the journal, Brain, some elderly people have a form of dementia that has been misdiagnosed as Alzheimer’s.

Limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy, or Late, shares similar symptoms to Alzheimer’s, but it is a distinct disease. Unlike Alzheimer’s, it is thought that it tends to cause a more gradual decline in memory.

It may partly explain why finding a dementia cure has failed so far.

There are lots of different types of dementia and Alzheimer’s is said to be the most common and most researched.

Scientists have been striving to find a cure for dementia, but with so many different types and causes of the disease, the goal has proved difficult.

Having a better understanding of Late might lead to the discovery of new treatments, say the researchers.

Read more about these latest findings on the BBC Website here

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service

Thanks to ChatGPT for help creating and editing this article.

November 12, 2018

New Scan Can ‘Predict cognitive decline’

A study – presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions conference in Chicago – claims that a five-minute scan could be used to spot people at risk of dementia before symptoms appear.

Using ultrasound scanners, scientists looked at blood vessels in the necks of more than 3,000 people and monitored them over 15 years.

They found those with the most intense pulses went on to experience greater cognitive decline over the next decade than the other study participants.

Cognitive decline is often one of the first signs of dementia, but not everyone with it go on to develop the condition.

Researchers hope it may offer a new way to predict cognitive decline.

Evidence suggests that controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, having a healthy diet, doing regular exercise and not smoking can all help to stave off dementia.

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are an independent, privately-owned care agency. We look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester.

Read more about our care service on our website here.

October 3, 2018January 10, 2019

New BBC Website to Help Dementia Sufferers

A new website https://musicmemories.bbcrewind.co.uk/ aims to help dementia sufferers by connecting them with the songs they remember and love.

A phenomenon known as the “memory bump” means the music we hear between the ages of 10 and 30 – when we become independent – carries more emotional resonance than any other.

Music therapy has been shown to alleviate depression, anxiety, hallucinations and mobility problems in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.

The website, which launched recently, allows people to browse nearly 2000 songs, classical works and TV theme tunes from the last 100 years. Creating a playlist of personally meaningful music.

Read more about the benefits of music in a BBC article here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45664458

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are a domiciliary care company helping to look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester. Read more about our independent care service on our website here.

September 30, 2018January 10, 2019

‘Magic Table’ Helping Dementia Suffers

New technology is helping patients reduce apathy – which is a symptom of dementia – and increase physical activity.

The device projects images on to a table and creates simple games that offer a mental challenge, help to relieve boredom and gets people more active.

The systems is relatively expensive (c£7) but has been installed in a number of dementia clubs and care homes in the UK.

Watch the video from the BBC here:

About Deckchair Care

Deckchair Care are a domiciliary care company helping to look after the elderly in Cheshire and South Manchester. Read more about our independent care service on our website here.

August 23, 2018

What are the early signs of dementia?

850,000 people in the UK have dementia (according to the Alzheimer’s Society), with one in six aged over 80. Although there is no cure, early diagnosis can help ease the symptoms, which include behavioral changes and memory loss.

The symptoms can be divided into three main stages. It can take years to progress from mild to serious, and each person will develop them at a different rate.

The NHS state that the most common early symptoms are memory lapses including:

Forgetting place or object names
Forgetting recent conversations
Regular repetition or asking the same question several times
Poor judgement and finding it tough to make decisions
Forgetting events or whereabouts of household items
Becoming less flexible or resistant to trying new things

There may also be mood changes, increased anxiety or confusion.

As the disease develops from the early stage, memory deteriorates further, with names of loved ones harder to recall. Even recognising friends and family can become difficult.

For more details, go to alzheimers.org.uk

For more information about how we help people and relatives of those suffering from dementia, please see our main site: https://www.deckchaircare.co.uk

August 20, 2018

Is the Government Ignoring Dementia?

Senior figures from Alzheimer’s Research UK, Dementia UK, and Alzheimer’s Scotland have urged the health secretary to put dementia “at the heart” of health plans for the next 10 years.

“We are deeply concerned that dementia has not been recognised in these top areas of focus,” the charities write, describing dementia as “the greatest health challenge of our time”.

Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Dementia takes a huge amount of resource for the NHS – one in four hospital beds are occupied by people with dementia, and the condition currently costs the UK economy more than cancer and heart disease combined. It’s imperative that our health system is able to respond to the challenges dementia poses today and in the future, and we must begin by placing dementia at the heart of its priorities.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We remain committed to making this the best country in the world for dementia care, support, research and awareness.

“NHS England is committed to offering support for patients diagnosed with dementia and over the last few years has seen the diagnosis rate increase from half, to more than two thirds of patients, enabling earlier care and support.

“We maintain a focus on diagnosis and support for people with dementia and their carers, as we develop the ten year plan.”

For more information about how we help people and families help care for dementia suffers, see our main website:

https://www.deckchaircare.co.uk

August 11, 2018

Take Part in the Largest Dementia Research Study Ever

Playing this game can help research dementia.

Sea Hero Quest has been created to help research the disease, help diagnose dementia early and eventually find a treatment.

One of the first symptoms of dementia is loss of navigational skills, Sea Hero Quest has so far provided enough data to help create the world’s first benchmark for human spatial navigation.

3 million people have played the game so far, making it the largest dementia study in history.

Partners of the initiative include Alzheimer research, University College London and the University of East Anglia.

Find out more here: http://www.seaheroquest.com

For help looking after someone with dementia, see our main site : https://www.deckchaircare.co.uk