Sundowners

Sundowners is not something Dwane experiences, and I am only vaguely familiar with it. It is a condition common to some types of dementia where the person has much more difficulty being lucid and calm when the sun is setting. A friend told me of taking a family member with dementia to a family celebration in the late afternoon and evening. The person with dementia became very confused, upset, violent. It is surprising how different the different types of dementia are. While Dwane does not have sundowners, he does have radical changes in his behavior and lucidity. It is just not at all predictable, as sundowners apparently is. Dwane also probably will not lose his ability to recognize people, as is common with some types of dementia. That is one reason I feel so strongly that the person with dementia should get a good neurolopsychological evaluation (after ruling out physical reasons for the cognitive changes, such as thyroid disorders). So that caregivers can know what they are dealing with and how to help support the behaviors and they want and the safety and happiness of the individual.

Dwane has been much more congenial, helpful and pleasant this week. When I complimented him on that last night at dinner, he said, "Well, I have some things to make up for." (meaning, I'm sure, his violence the evening last week.) So, there is an element of choice in his behavior. It will be interesting to see how much choice can continue to factor in. I hope he can always choose how he responds.