It’s Time to Spring Ahead Again
Daylight Savings time (DSL) is just around the corner. On Sunday, March 13, we will set our clocks ahead one hour, beginning at 2 a.m. While it is exciting to embrace the change of seasons and the warmer days of Spring, “springing ahead” affects all of us, especially those with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
We have all experienced those first few days of feeling tired when we change our clocks. Our brain feels foggy, and it seems harder to wind down at the end of the day. Now imagine suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s where navigating through daily living already experiencing confusion can be challenging enough.
Sundowning and DSL
One of the biggest affects is the occurrence of “sundowning.” Sundowning is a condition defined as, “a state of confusion occurring in the late afternoon and spanning into the night.” Sundowning can cause a variety of behaviors, such as confusion, anxiety, aggression or ignoring directions. Sundowning can also lead to pacing or wandering.” (Mayo Clinic) Often the time changes exacerbate sundowning syndrome even more. Symptoms that can occur include:
• Heightened irritability
• Confusion
• Fatigue
Keeping Routines Help Ease the Transition
As we prepare to visit our loved ones during the day or even weeks that follow, there are several ways we can help make our resident’s transition smoother. The Mayo Clinic offers the following suggestions, such as:
• Maintaining routines such as meals, bedtime, waking and other daily activities
• Discouraging daytime naps until their bodies adjust
• Limiting sugar and caffeine intake to morning hours.
Activities to Ease the Transition and Embrace Spring
Additionally, after a long winter, DSL is an opportunity to begin focusing on fun Spring activities or even slight wardrobe changes to help transition into the season. Some suggestions include:
• Swapping out winter clothes for spring clothes. While we live in Michigan, where winter weather can last well past DSL and with the vernal equinox scheduled for Sunday, March 20, warm weather clothing probably isn’t an option. However, we can help residents swap out darker clothes with traditional pastel-colored sweaters and sweatshirts.
• In anticipation of spending more time outdoors, have residents paint wooden planter boxes. When the weather warms up, they can look forward to planting flowers in the newly painted boxes.
• Decorate your facility for spring with flowers and butterfly decals or hire a professional window painter. Let the residents direct and contribute suggestions about the painting subjects.
In addition to redirecting with new activities and daily routines as we adjust to longer days, often compassion and care can also go a long way in helping our families and residents with the transition.
~ Colleen Buehner
For more information on the topics above please feel free to peruse the sources below:
Citations
Not Just Bingo.
https://www.ssww.com/blog/5-senior-activity-ideas-celebrate-daylight-savingstime/
Radford-Graff, J. Sundowning: Late-day Confusion.
RESIDENT CARE AIDE DIRECTOR SPOTLIGHT
Linda joined the QCOH team in August, 2019
She has had a very diverse career history including sales and marketing. Linda says that her favorite thing about QCOH is getting to know our residents.
Linda will soon be transitioning to the role of QCOH’s activity director. She is looking forward to planning and participating in fun activities with our residents.
Linda Ramirez
In her spare time, Linda enjoys hanging out with her grandson, Asher. Family is especially important to Linda and when she is not here with her QCOH family, she likes being up north with her brothers, sisters, children and nieces and nephews.