Calming Evening Routines to Reduce Sundowning in a Memory Care
Your senior loved one who lives with memory challenges may be dealing with challenges during certain parts of the day. It’s common for them to have struggles during the evening hours since they may experience increased confusion, anxiety, or restlessness. These are symptoms of what is known as “sundowning”. To reduce such instances, memory care community staff members are specially trained to perform certain tasks for your senior loved ones that ensure comfort, routine, and familiarity.
Structured, calm evening routines can make a massive difference for your senior loved one. You’ll rest easy knowing that they are being taken care of by a staff that prioritizes gentleness and calm to ensure that they are not experiencing episodes of sundowning.
What Is Sundowning?
Sundowning is defined as changes in behavior that normally occur during the late afternoon or evening. Your senior loved one could experience symptoms like agitation, pacing, difficulty settling down, confusion, and other signs of concern. While a common occurrence, there may be a chance that they may not experience it at all. Still, a gentle and structured approach may be used to ease that discomfort they can go through at times.
A memory care community knows that during this time of day, they can create personalized routines based on your senior loved one’s needs. These include calming activities that they can enjoy on a daily basis and anticipate the next time it happens, making it one of many benefits for your loved one.
The Purpose of Evening Routines
Evening routines for your senior loved one are designed to set expectations while also providing them with the comfort that they need while contending with memory challenges. One of the key pillars of their day is operating with predictable schedules that provide them reassurance while also reducing instances of confusion, disorientation, and agitation among others. There are some examples that can be incorporated into your senior loved one’s evening routine such as:
- Soft lighting such as gradual dimming that signals a transition from day to night.
- Include quiet activities like reading, gentle music, or even quiet conversations.
- Enjoying a warm beverage like herbal tea or warm milk.
- A consistent bedtime schedule that encourages regular sleep habits.
By including these into your daily life, a memory care community can seamlessly put together a routine for your senior loved one. You’ll be at ease knowing that their care staff prioritizes those needs and more.
A Visit To Main Street In The Afternoon or Evening
The Main Street space in memory care communities is by far one of the most innovative features that assist your senior loved one in engaging with familiar activities. These are designed to create a look and feel of a familiar town square with crafted environments that allow them to engage and interact with certain spaces like the “cafe”, “theater, or “salon”. Whether it’s in the afternoon or evening, your senior loved one can enjoy a quiet stroll or even enjoy interacting with others who are winding down as well.
They can enjoy themselves in a safe, secure area where they can move freely and enjoy gentle evening activities that might be going on. With these activities, your senior loved one can enjoy them regularly while also indicating that daytime is slowly transitioning to the evening.
What Are The Best Activities For Easier Transitions?
Memory care community staff members often organize engaging and soothing activities for your senior loved one. This ensures that they are prepared for the usual transition from being out and about to getting settled in and ready for bed. Here are some examples of the following activities that typically happen for easier transitions:
- Music therapy: These can include tunes that are soft and familiar to your senior loved one that can create a peaceful atmosphere.
- Activities that promote reminiscence: Looking through family photo albums or sharing simple stories that can provide them with that joyful, comfortable connection can be something they’ll always enjoy.
- Gentle exercises: They can take a short walk along Main Street or a light stretching routine that can help them release any restlessness that they might be experiencing.
- Creative outlets: This can be something they can enjoy such as coloring, simple craft activities, or similar calming activities that will help them focus their energy in a more positive approach.
Looking for a Safe and Secure Memory Care Setting for Your Senior Loved One? Move Them to Lyndale Abilene Memory Care Today
At Lyndale Abilene Memory Care, your senior loved one can experience top quality care from a compassionate staff that can help them reduce occurrences of sundowning. With regular activities that are calm and routine and a Main Street area where they can enjoy an afternoon or evening out, your senior loved one can experience the best in memory care with a familiar routine that makes life easier for themselves and your family. Contact us today if you have any questions or wish to schedule a tour of our community.
