Late-afternoon behavior

Well, tonight I am a little excited. I went to the Alzheimers support meeting in Monroe today and Fannie our state social services director, which has her office in Monroe said she would put an ad in the paper and see if we couldn't start a support group for PWiD. Yeah! I really hope we have some good responses. The support was really depressing today and LOUD. It usually is more organized and not as loud and I feel I can input sometimes to help families understand, why moma or spouse "doesn't put everything in her cornbread she used to and it really taste bad now." I told them because sometimes I can't remember what is suppose to go in a dish that I have fixed for years. He understood then. Things like this come up and I can tell this is why I do this or that, not that everyone does it for that reason. Anyway for my tidbits today is still from Coach Frank Broyles book:

Fidgeting and acting nervous, becoming easily upset, and wanting to go "home" when she is already home are types of late-afternoon behavior. (As a nurse I was taught this is sundowners syndrome). Anyway...........

• Give her a hug
• Tell her where she is
• Tell her she is safe
• Tell her you are not leaving her
• Change the topic
• Turn on more lights
• Close the blinds or curtains
• Ask if she is hungry or if she will help you in the kitchen
• Offer an easy activity like sorting spoons or forks or ask her to wipe off the table with you

These are a few very good suggestions from his book. You can also tell her okay, put her in the car and take her for a ride and back home. If her short term memory is already bad she will have forgotten about wanting to go home. Maybe a stop for ice cream or something would be nice. Have a nice night. I am heading for the chatroom to host tonight. I am really scared so I hope I say the right thing. If it is too stressful I won't do it any more. We will be. Good night.