“The afternoons are really hard, what can help?”
In an ‘Ask Us Anything’ episode of the Hold the Moment podcast, a National Dementia Helpline Advisor answered the following question from Wilma who cares for someone living with dementia.
The afternoons are really hard for us. What can help with that? Wilma
Some people living with dementia may become more confused, anxious and restless late in the afternoon or evening.
For a long time this has been called sundowning however it is now referred to as restlessness.
A person living with dementia may not be able to communicate to you the reason why they are restless, and it can be confusing and worrying for everybody.
Be curious and explore what might be happening for the person.
Some reasons include memory loss – your person might head out to visit a friend or go to the shops and forget what they were doing or where they were going.
They may be looking for someone from their past or doing something associated with past routines, like going to work.
They also may be feeling boredom, agitation, discomfort or pain, or trying to leave somewhere that's too loud or too busy.
How should I respond?
How you respond depends on the person and what may be happening for them.
We encourage regular check-ins with the GP to rule out anything underlying such as pain or illness, as well as hydration and hunger.
It's a great idea to keep a diary of the restlessness to see if you can identify a pattern.
You can then learn how to redirect the behaviour with something purposeful that meets their need.
Remove items in the environment that could prompt restlessness, such as handbags or jackets, and always orient your loved one to their usual environment and daily routine.
Other things you can do include ensuring that your person has familiar items with them, establishing a safe place to walk and making sure they have identification, such as an identity bracelet.
You might also keep a list of familiar or favourite places they like to visit and let your neighbours or community know.
It’s also important to note that restlessness may include things such as withdrawal or declining meals.
Find out more
This question and answer are a part of the Ask Us Anything series in Season 3 of Hold the Moment, Dementia Australia's podcast.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts or on the Dementia Australia website.
If you would like support, advice or information about anything dementia related, contact the National Dementia Helpline.
It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year on 1800 100 500 or via live chat.
