Lights For Sundowners

An increasing number of studies suggest that special lights can be an effective way to ease symptoms like sundowning.

Lights for sundowners.

Multiple medical journals dating as far back as 1941 have. Is it a good idea to try bright light therapy for dementia. These low level lights will help a person with sundowner s know where. Sundown syndrome also called sundowners or sundowning is a set of neuropsychiatric symptoms occurring in up to 66 of older adults with mid to late stage alzheimer s or other forms of dementia.

Caring for seniors with dementia might get a little easier with light therapy for sundowners. Make a comfortable and safe sleep environment. Several causes have been identified for sundowners syndrome. People should maintain bright levels of light as daylight fades and use nightlights or low light lamps throughout the night.

Adjusting the light in their home might help reduce their symptoms. Confusion restlessness and or showing repetitive behaviors. As the light dims people with sundowners syndrome may display more symptoms e g. Doctors call it sundowning or sundown syndrome.

Sundowning isn t a disease but a group of symptoms that can occur at a specific time of the day. A bright new breakthrough for dementia. Fluorescent lighting is not bright enough or of the right spectrum color to act as a replacement for natural light. Take steps to correct the following.

The person s sleeping area should be at a comfortable temperature. Adequate lighting may reduce the agitation that occurs when surroundings are dark or unfamiliar. Fading light seems to be the trigger. Therapy light like this is only effective when the eyes are open and the light can directly affect the visual cortex.

Sundowning isn t a disease but a group of symptoms that occur at a specific time of the day that may affect people with dementia such as alzheimer s disease. The symptoms can get worse as the night goes on and usually get better by morning. Sundowning can also lead to pacing or wandering. Sundowners a term often used to describe aggression agitation changed mood confusion and other symptoms in folks with dementia around twilight or nighttime is very common according to this article in psychiatry investigations.

To be of therapeutic value the light should be full spectrum white light and at least 5 000 to 10 000 lux. Sundowning can cause a variety of behaviors such as confusion anxiety aggression or ignoring directions. Your loved one might experience sundowning as the result of changes in their circadian rhythms their sleep wake cycles.