{"id":2928,"date":"2021-05-04T19:05:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-05T01:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/civitasseniorl.wpenginepowered.com\/the-ridglea\/what-is-sundowners-syndrome\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T13:09:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T19:09:43","slug":"what-is-sundowners-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.civitasseniorliving.com\/the-ridglea\/what-is-sundowners-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Sundowners Syndrome?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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As a committed Fort Worth caretaker of a senior with dementia or Alzheimer\u2019s, you likely rigorously track their daily habits. From maintaining their Power of Attorney<\/a> to tracking eating habits, you know the importance of staying attuned to daily shifts.<\/span><\/p>

Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> reveals escalating symptoms as the condition progresses from the early to the late stages. One common behavioral change is sundowning, a set of symptoms that affect people in the mid-to-late stages of Alzheimer\u2019s. Amidst so many factors to track, you may be wondering, \u201cWhat is sundowning exactly? What are the signs I should look for? And how will it affect my loved one?\u201d Here we will outline common characters and provide tips for things you can do to alleviate the symptoms of sundowning.<\/p>

What is Sundowning\/Sundowners Syndrome?<\/h2>

If you’ve noticed a shift in your loved one\u2019s behavior from daylight to nighttime, you’re probably witnessing sundowning. Sundowning is an evident behavioral change in the late afternoon or evening hours as the sun begins to set. Confusion sets in and causes erratic behavior not typical for that person.<\/p>

When in foreign environments \u2013 such as visiting an unfamiliar house or visiting a hospital \u2013 they can also demonstrate sundowners syndrome. While sundowning can happen during the day, symptoms are most likely to occur at night when there is a decrease in light.<\/p>

Though the precise cause of sundowner\u2019s syndrome is unknown, researchers posit that it is caused by interference to a person\u2019s natural body clock. Short winter days are more likely to aggravate sundowning symptoms, as is travel to a different time zone.<\/p>

What Are the Early Signs?<\/h2>

The early sundowners syndrome symptoms may be difficult to recognize due to the mixed behavioral shifts from day to day. Symptoms can be unpredictable and varied. For example, one evening, your loved one may be defiant and refuse to get dressed for bed. In contrast, the following evening, they may be sad and unresponsive to questions. The signs can be subtle, so it may take time to notice the behavioral changes.<\/p>

The common early signs of sundowners syndrome include:<\/p>