Homemaker Companion & Sitters

Manage Your Loved One’s Sundowning with These Tips

Is your senior loved one a sundowner --- someone who gets confused, agitated, restless or irritable during the late part of the day? Cope up with their sudden behavioral change with these tips:

• Know what triggers it and manage them as much as possible. Example – if it's triggered by the lengthening shadows of the night, then provide ample lighting.

• Set a balance between doing activities and having rest. Physically inactive seniors and exhausted ones are both likely to exhibit sundowning at the end of the day.

• Make your home's evening mood quiet and relaxed.

Do You Know?

Coping Steps to Take with Your Aging Loved One’s Sudden Hospitalization

1. Discuss the possibility of hospitalization with your aging loved ones earlier on. It’s inevitable given their advancing age. Talk about finances and where they're going to stay after.

2. Make sure all your loved one's vital medical documents are in order for cases such as these.

3.Know who to talk to about your senior family member’s health condition. Establish an open communication with the hospital team taking care of them.

4. Learn everything you can about their post-hospitalization care.

5. Find caregiver support for yourself. Getting help when you need it is important.

Why Is Being Physically Active Important for Seniors?

According to CDC, it's not just aging that brings about strength and stamina loss. Reduced physical activity does, too. Our tendency to be inactive increases with aging. These numbers prove it: 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women aged 75 are not physically active.
However, it is vital for seniors as it:

a. increases their balancing abilities
b. reduces their risk of figuring in falling mishaps resulting to grave injuries
c. helps make aging in place possible

Families play an important role in encouraging seniors to get active. Gardening and walking are popular active activities among seniors.