Senior Care Tips for Sundowners Syndrome: EasyLiving Blog
Have you noticed your loved one with dementia experiencing changed sleeping patterns and more difficulty late in the day?
Most likely you are experiencing the set of symptoms termed Sundowners Syndrome or sundowning behavior in dementia. For a variety of reasons (from our bodies' natural rhythms and light signals to learned patterns), persons with dementia may have particular difficulty in the late afternoon and evening hours. The person often feels a sense of restlesness and agitation--a need to go somewhere or do something, the sense of being unsettled. This may manifest itself as a need "to go home" and lead to wandering or may show up in a variety of behaviors.
Senior care providers should be aware of this set of symptoms and watch for such patterns. A care facility may want to staff this time of day differently or plan for specific activities and try to manage the environment. Some examples include changes to lighting, providing distracting and/or calming activities during this time, ensuring residents have a snack and are well-rested and reducing irritating stimuli. More one-on-one attention may be needed for safety and reassurance during late afternoons and evenings.
Senior caregivers caring for a loved one or client at home should also monitor for different behaviors and patterns. What are some things you can do to better manage sundowners syndrome and provide safe, dignified dementia care?
Wandering and Elopement Resources | NCCDP Endorses Project Lifesaver
Wandering and Elopement Resources: Practitioner Definition
NCCDP Endorses Project Lifesaver
FEATURED LINKS
Elopement Resource Manual from Healthcare Association of New York
Wandering and Elopement: Litigation Issues from http://www.nccdp.org/wandering.htm
Marie Boltz, MSN, APRN-BC, NHA Director of Practice Initiatives
The John A Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing
NYU College of Nursing
Introduction
One of the most challenging, life-threatening issues related to care of the person with cognitive loss is the occurrence of wandering, wherein the person strays into unsafe territories and may be harmed. The most dangerous form of wandering is elopement in which the confused person leaves an area and does not return. The risk of wandering has become a growing concern of families, long-term care facilities, regulators, and insurers
.1 In addition to civil liability, care providers can be fined by the state regulatory agency for failure to prevent elopement.
2 The effects upon the population served and the staff are no less dramatic. The sense of security of those served and their families is severely shaken, and staff morale as well as the organization’s reputation is dealt a devastating blow.
3 The aim of this chapter is to define wandering, elopement, and related issues, and to summarize the scope of the problems in terms of prevalence and effect. The types and causes of wandering and generally accepted approaches to care will be discussed. The regulatory and risk management considerations will also be presented. A hypothetical case will be presented. Finally, the role of an expert witness will be discussed.
NCCDP Endorses Project Lifesaver
FEATURED LINKS
Elopement Resource Manual from Healthcare Association of New York
- Alert Systems for Missing Adults, CMS report for Congress 2009, Silver Alert Legislation, Golden Alert Legislation
- Alzheimer Dandyfunk for Caregivers - List many products Motion sensors and Tracking
- A Shoe for Wanderers - (with tracking device), October 14 2011 NY Times
- Best Practices for Preventing Elopement With Patients With Dementia in Hospitals - FREE VIDEO TO VIEW
- Breadcrumb - Wandering Solution
- DBS Productions - Alzheimer's Links
- dbs Productions - The Source of Search and Rescue Research, Publications and Training - Wandering Incident: Preparedness
- Dehydration Risk Assessment Tool
- Dementia Care Mapping
- Dementia Care Mapping Book
- Dewing Risk for Wandering Risk Assessment Tool
- Elopement Resource Manual
- Elopement Resource Manual from Healthcare Association of New York
- Elopement Risk Assessment Form
- EM Finders, Elopement Risk Assessment Form, Elopement Risk Assessment Decision Tree
- First Responder Training - Wandering and Elopement
- GPS Shoes
- Guide for the Use of Disguised Doors and other Preventive Exiting Strategies for People with Dementia
- Guidelines for Best Practice Elopement Prevention Assessments, policies and forms
- Keruve Family Direct Locator - GPS Watch and Receiver
- LifeProTekt
- Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist—1990R
- Mental State Exam (MMSE)
- Missing Resident Protocol and Risk Assessments Hazardous Wandering and Elopement Continuing Care Risk Management System
- Myth Busting: The Wandering Issue
- National Institute for Elopement Prevention and Resolution
- New York State EDGE Program Electronic Dementia Guide for Excellence
- Patient Leaves Nursing Home Three Times in One Day
- Personal Alarms: Safety Device or Hazard
- Practical Approaches to Dementia Care
- Project Lifesaver International and Lo Jack Safety Net Solution
- Revised Algase Wandering Scale (RAWS)
- RoamAlert - Stanley Healthcare Solutions
- Short Geriatric Depression Scale (SGDS)
- The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory: Long Form with Expanded Descriptions of Behaviors
- The Florida Factor, dbs Productions, Wandering Characteristics
- The Windsor Star, Canada, Family sues long term care home over death, November 26th 2012
- US Department of Health and Human Services -Agency for Health Care Research and Quality -
National Guideline Clearinghouse - Wandering Guidelines and Assessments - Vigil Health Solutions - Nurse Call and Dementia Monitoring Technology
- Wandering Behavior
- Wandering Committee Guidelines
- Wandering Behavior: Preparing for It and Preventing It.
- Wandering Protocol
Marie Boltz, MSN, APRN-BC, NHA Director of Practice Initiatives
The John A Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing
NYU College of Nursing
Introduction
One of the most challenging, life-threatening issues related to care of the person with cognitive loss is the occurrence of wandering, wherein the person strays into unsafe territories and may be harmed. The most dangerous form of wandering is elopement in which the confused person leaves an area and does not return. The risk of wandering has become a growing concern of families, long-term care facilities, regulators, and insurers
.1 In addition to civil liability, care providers can be fined by the state regulatory agency for failure to prevent elopement.
2 The effects upon the population served and the staff are no less dramatic. The sense of security of those served and their families is severely shaken, and staff morale as well as the organization’s reputation is dealt a devastating blow.
3 The aim of this chapter is to define wandering, elopement, and related issues, and to summarize the scope of the problems in terms of prevalence and effect. The types and causes of wandering and generally accepted approaches to care will be discussed. The regulatory and risk management considerations will also be presented. A hypothetical case will be presented. Finally, the role of an expert witness will be discussed.
Day Clock | Non traditional clock shows the periods of the day ( i.e particular part of the day)
Day Clock | Dementia Clock | Alzheimer’s Clock
The Day Clocks’ has a clear and simple display of “Now it’s Monday Morning” This clock is unlike any traditional clock you have seen. It does not
have one single number on its face, just the days of the week. Non traditional clock shows the periods of the day ( i.e particular part of the day)
Help your loved ones who have Dementia or memory problems In the US there are as many as 5.4 million people who have Dementia. If a loved one has dementia or any other memory loss problems, the DayClock will help remind them the time of day. Making dementia more manageable.
Help your loved ones who have Dementia or memory problems In the US there are as many as 5.4 million people who have Dementia. If a loved one has dementia or any other memory loss problems, the DayClock will help remind them the time of day. Making dementia more manageable.
The Aetrex Navistar GPS Footwear System · GPS Shoe
The Aetrex Navistar GPS Footwear System · GPS Shoe: GPS Shoe
Millions of seniors with dementia will wander in search of their lost memories. While we can’t find those remembrances, we can find the lost victims themselves.
The Mayo Clinic describes Alzheimer’s and the problem of Wandering: The disease can erase a person’s memory of once-familiar surroundings, as well as make it extremely difficult to adapt to new surroundings. As a result, people who have Alzheimer’s may wander away from their homes or care centers and turn up lost, frightened and disoriented — sometimes far from where they started.
--
GPS shoes can help track people with Alzheimer's (video)
Millions of seniors with dementia will wander in search of their lost memories. While we can’t find those remembrances, we can find the lost victims themselves.
The Mayo Clinic describes Alzheimer’s and the problem of Wandering: The disease can erase a person’s memory of once-familiar surroundings, as well as make it extremely difficult to adapt to new surroundings. As a result, people who have Alzheimer’s may wander away from their homes or care centers and turn up lost, frightened and disoriented — sometimes far from where they started.
--
GPS shoes can help track people with Alzheimer's (video)
Alzheimer’s Speaks / Shifting Our Dementia Care Culture / International Resources
Alzheimer’s Speaks / Shifting Our Dementia Care Culture / International Resources
Bottom line all businesses, communities as well as individuals need to become Dementia Friendly. The statistics alone show the numbers are staggering and only growing. Now is the time to get ahead of the game before negative outcomes increase. We offer "Dementia Friendly Programs" for both companies and individuals.
Alzheimer's Speaks believes collaboration is the key to living a successful and purpose filled life with dementia. By working together, we can push both conventional and alternative efforts forward in search of answers. By joining forces and sharing knowledge, we can win the battle against dementia.
Shopping for the Right In-home Help By Eileen Beal, MA
Shopping for the Right In-home Help: Shopping for the Right In-home Help
By Eileen Beal, MA
Home care vs. home health aide
Home care aides provide assistance with housekeeping and chores (meal preparation, shopping, errands, etc); socialization and companionship; and may also provide some personal care (bathing and grooming). In some areas, they are called personal care assistants.
Home health aides – increasingly certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and/or state tested nursing assistants (STNA) – provide medically-related care (check blood pressure and glucose levels, dress dry wounds, empty colostomy bags, etc.); assist with therapeutic treatments prescribed by a physician; supervise medication administration; etc.
“The client’s needs and the aide’s skill-level determine what the aide’s [hourly] fee will be. The more skills the aide has, the higher the cost,” says Debbie Adams, RN, the Director of the Cleveland, Ohio-based Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging’s Community Services and Support Program.
Write a job description
Using the information you’ve gathered from discussing and assessing your loved ones’ needs, write a detailed job description. “Care expectations vary from client to client, so having everything in writing means everyone knows, and meets, expectations,” says Lucy Andrews, the nurse/CEO at Santa Rosa, California-based At Your Service Home Care.
By Eileen Beal, MA
Home care vs. home health aide
Home care aides provide assistance with housekeeping and chores (meal preparation, shopping, errands, etc); socialization and companionship; and may also provide some personal care (bathing and grooming). In some areas, they are called personal care assistants.
Home health aides – increasingly certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and/or state tested nursing assistants (STNA) – provide medically-related care (check blood pressure and glucose levels, dress dry wounds, empty colostomy bags, etc.); assist with therapeutic treatments prescribed by a physician; supervise medication administration; etc.
“The client’s needs and the aide’s skill-level determine what the aide’s [hourly] fee will be. The more skills the aide has, the higher the cost,” says Debbie Adams, RN, the Director of the Cleveland, Ohio-based Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging’s Community Services and Support Program.
Write a job description
Using the information you’ve gathered from discussing and assessing your loved ones’ needs, write a detailed job description. “Care expectations vary from client to client, so having everything in writing means everyone knows, and meets, expectations,” says Lucy Andrews, the nurse/CEO at Santa Rosa, California-based At Your Service Home Care.
Renting a Stairlift for short periods
Renting a Stairlift for the Holidays | The Intentional Caregiver: Renting a Stairlift for the Holidays
courtesy of depositphotos.com
Christmas is an exciting time, filled with giving presents and simply being together as a family. You want to be able to enjoy the time spent with family and friends and not spend valuable family time worrying about mobility issues.
If you have become less able in recent years, or if you are caregiving for someone who has, it is understandable that you may not have the same holiday cheer you once had. You may find going to visit family and friends a chore as you or your care recipient struggle to climb up their staircase. You may feel like you will be a burden if you or your loved one cannot move freely around their home. You do not want your family to have to work their Christmas plans around any lack of mobility so you may suggest you will stay at home.
What most people do not realise is that if you can rent a stairlift for the holidays! A mobility lift is the perfect answer to all your mobility needs during the busy Christmas period. Perhaps your children live far away and you would like to stay with them before Christmas until the New Year.
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Features of typical rental lifts include:
courtesy of depositphotos.com
Christmas is an exciting time, filled with giving presents and simply being together as a family. You want to be able to enjoy the time spent with family and friends and not spend valuable family time worrying about mobility issues.
If you have become less able in recent years, or if you are caregiving for someone who has, it is understandable that you may not have the same holiday cheer you once had. You may find going to visit family and friends a chore as you or your care recipient struggle to climb up their staircase. You may feel like you will be a burden if you or your loved one cannot move freely around their home. You do not want your family to have to work their Christmas plans around any lack of mobility so you may suggest you will stay at home.
What most people do not realise is that if you can rent a stairlift for the holidays! A mobility lift is the perfect answer to all your mobility needs during the busy Christmas period. Perhaps your children live far away and you would like to stay with them before Christmas until the New Year.
==
Features of typical rental lifts include:
- Brand new rail and fully reconditioned seat
- Comfortable padded seating and back rest
- Fold up seat, arms and foot rest
- Remote controls
- Battery powered
- Directional paddle switches
- Digital diagnostic display
- Safety sensors
The MedCottage, also nicknamed "the Granny pod",
Where to put elderly parents - National Green Living | Examiner.com: The MedCottage, also nicknamed "the Granny pod", is similar to a three-room apartment but it is equipped like a hospital room. Its water, electric and sewage systems work off the caregiver's home. It has a kitchenette and laundry facilities and comes in three sizes, 288 square feet, 299 square feet, or 605 square feet. The kitchen has a small refrigerator, microwave, and medication dispenser. One wall has a first-aid kit and even a defibrillator machine. There are safety rails, the bathroom is handicapped accessible, and there are three built-in cameras with one in the ceiling over the kitchen area and one in the floor to provide alerts of falls in the unit. Read the Washington Post article for more pictures of the unit and the story of the first occupant of one.
Smart robotic features monitor vital signs, filter air contaminants, and communicate with the outside world. Computers prompt with medication reminders and sensors alert caregivers of problems like the occupant falling and needing help. There are entertainment options for music, literature and watching movies. The state law in Virginia, where they originated, classified them a few years ago as “temporary family health-care structures.” They may not be legal in some states, so get them pre-approved first before buying one.
Smart robotic features monitor vital signs, filter air contaminants, and communicate with the outside world. Computers prompt with medication reminders and sensors alert caregivers of problems like the occupant falling and needing help. There are entertainment options for music, literature and watching movies. The state law in Virginia, where they originated, classified them a few years ago as “temporary family health-care structures.” They may not be legal in some states, so get them pre-approved first before buying one.
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