What is sundowning?

When a person’s dementia progresses, the chemical messages that help them to think, speak and understand can be disrupted due to changes in the brain.

What is sundowning for people with dementia?

Sundowning is the term that is sometimes used to describe a cluster of symptoms that a person with dementia may experience from late afternoon into the evening. Symptoms may include increased confusion, anxiety and agitation, though this varies person to person.

It’s important to remember that people living with dementia are doing their best to make sense of a world that may no longer feel familiar, with a brain that works differently than it used to, and that increased distress of this nature can make things feel worse.

What can trigger sundowning?

The difficulties a person living with dementia may experience in the late afternoon and evening can be triggered by disruption to their circadian rhythm and low evening light.

How to help someone experiencing sundowning

If your loved one is struggling to cope in the late afternoons and evenings, Carl George, Specialist Dementia Lead at Care UK, recommends a few ways that you can try to help them:

The most important thing to remember is that your loved one is doing their best to make sense of the world with a brain that has been affected by dementia. 

Care UK’s Head of Dementia and Lifestyles, Jo Crossland, reminds families to ‘consider the dementia, but always remember the person’. Each person experiences dementia differently because they have a unique life story. Tapping into their personal history often provides clues for understanding and communicating more effectively.

How Care UK can help

At Care UK, we understand that every journey with dementia is unique. That’s why we are here to help you find the right care options for your loved one, with personalised plans and compassionate support every step of the way.

Find your local Care UK care home or explore our dementia help and advice hub for more tips for caring with someone living with dementia.

FAQs