How Do I Get Through the Day and What Is Sundowning?

Caregiving can feel different from one part of the day to the next.

A morning may begin calmly, while the afternoon brings more restlessness, confusion, or frustration. In Chapter 7 of Jamie Glavich’s Simply Caring: Putting the Alzheimer’s Puzzle Together, Jamie looks at ways to create structure throughout the day, recognize changing needs, and better understand sundowning.

Keep the Day Familiar

A predictable rhythm can help make the day feel more manageable.

Meals, activities, appointments, rest, and quiet time do not have to happen at exactly the same time every day, but familiar routines can help create a sense of comfort.

When possible, errands and appointments may be easier earlier in the day, before tiredness or confusion begins to increase.

Simple Activities Can Still Be Meaningful

As Alzheimer’s progresses, a person may have more difficulty starting activities on their own.

Simple activities can help add purpose and engagement throughout the day. Puzzles, coloring, sorting items, folding towels, tossing a ball, or listening to music may all offer opportunities for connection.

Activities do not have to be complicated to matter.

Behavior May Be Telling You Something

If your loved one becomes restless, agitated, or frustrated, pause and consider what may be causing it.

Are they hungry or thirsty? Tired? In pain? Needing the bathroom? Is the environment too noisy or overwhelming?

Sometimes a change in behavior is a clue that another need should be addressed.

What Is Sundowning?

Some people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia experience increased confusion, anxiety, restlessness, or agitation later in the day. This is commonly known as sundowning.

Fatigue, changes in lighting, increased shadows, disruption of the body’s internal clock, or too much stimulation may make symptoms worse.

Not everyone with Alzheimer’s experiences sundowning, and it may look different from person to person.

Create a Calmer Evening

If late afternoons or evenings become difficult, small adjustments may help.

Try keeping routines familiar, reducing noise and stimulation, and creating a calmer environment as the day winds down. Familiar music or relaxing sounds may also help.

If sundowning begins suddenly or becomes noticeably worse, talk with your loved one’s healthcare provider, since pain, infection, sleep problems, or other medical concerns may be contributing.

There Is No Perfect Way Through Every Day

Some days will feel easier than others.

Caregiving often means observing, adjusting, and trying again. What worked yesterday may not work today, and that is okay.

A good day does not have to be a busy day. Comfort, connection, familiar routines, and a few meaningful moments can be enough.

Getting through the day does not mean doing everything perfectly.

Say Yes to the Next Step

You don’t have to navigate changing care needs alone.

Call Jamie today to learn how Almost Home can support your family. 904-731-4002.

How Do I Start the Day? Simple Ways to Make Caregiving Mornings More Manageable

Mornings can set the tone for the rest of the day. For caregivers, however, getting everyone dressed, fed, hydrated, and ready can sometimes feel like a full day’s work before the day has really begun.

In Chapter 6 of Simply Caring: Putting the Alzheimer’s Puzzle Together, Jamie Glavich explores the importance of routine and preparation when starting the day with someone experiencing Alzheimer’s or memory loss.

Prepare Before the Morning Begins

Sometimes the easiest way to simplify tomorrow morning is to start today.

Choosing clothing the night before can eliminate one more decision in the morning. As a person’s needs change, clothing may need to change too. Comfortable pieces that are easy to put on and take off can help make dressing simpler.

The goal isn’t to rush through the morning. It’s to remove unnecessary complications wherever possible.

Keep the Routine Familiar

A predictable routine can provide comfort and help make the morning feel more manageable.

Try keeping everyday tasks in a familiar order. Getting dressed, eating breakfast, taking medications, or beginning a favorite morning activity at similar times can create a rhythm to the day.

Caregiving needs will change over time, so routines may need to change with them. What matters is finding what works for the person you’re caring for and for you as the caregiver.

Don’t Overlook Breakfast and Hydration

Breakfast is an important part of the morning, but mealtimes can become more challenging as a person’s needs change.

Keeping choices simple can help. Instead of presenting several foods at once, offering one or two familiar options may make the meal feel less overwhelming. Taste, texture, temperature, and even how food is presented can also make a difference.

Hydration matters, too. Offering fluids regularly throughout the morning can make drinking part of the routine rather than another task to remember later.

Give Yourself Room to Adjust

There isn’t one perfect morning routine for every caregiver or every family.

Some mornings will go according to plan. Others won’t.

As needs change, the routine that worked yesterday may need to be adjusted tomorrow. Preparation, patience, familiarity, and a little flexibility can help make those changes easier to navigate.

At Almost Home, we understand that caregiving is made up of these everyday moments. You don’t have to have every answer—you simply need somewhere to begin.

And sometimes, making tomorrow easier starts today.

Say Yes to the Next Step

You don’t have to navigate changing care needs alone.

Call Jamie today to learn how Almost Home can support your family. 904-731-4002.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s often means learning and adjusting as their needs change.

In Chapter 5 of Jamie Glavich’s Simply Caring: Putting the Alzheimer’s Puzzle Together, Jamie explores some of the practical matters caregivers may encounter along the way. From changes in behavior and eating habits to medications, falls, home safety, and driving, caregiving can bring questions that don’t always have simple answers.

Look Beyond the Behavior

When a behavior changes, consider what may be causing it. Your loved one may be uncomfortable, confused, frightened, tired, or reacting to something in their environment.

What worked yesterday may not always work tomorrow. As Alzheimer’s progresses, caregivers often have to adjust routines and try new approaches.

Pay Attention to Changing Needs

Everyday needs can change, too. Medications may need to be reviewed with healthcare professionals, while appetite, food preferences, portions, and mealtime routines may change over time.

Safety should also be considered regularly. Simple changes such as improving lighting, removing clutter, addressing tripping hazards, or adding appropriate bathroom supports can help make the home easier to navigate.

A fall may also be telling you more than “they tripped.” Changes in balance, mobility, vision, medications, or other health concerns may be worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

Some Decisions Are Difficult

Driving, independence, and safety can lead to some of the hardest conversations families face. Even familiar places may eventually become difficult for someone with Alzheimer’s to navigate.

There may not always be a perfect answer.

Good caregiving isn’t only about knowing the disease. It’s about continuing to observe, ask questions, adapt, and make decisions with your loved one’s safety, dignity, and quality of life in mind.

Caregiving means learning as needs change.

Say Yes to the Next Step

You don’t have to navigate changing care needs alone.

Call Jamie today to learn how Almost Home can support your family. 904-731-4002.