Sundowning?

Specialties Private Duty

Published

Specializes in Pediatric.

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the term "sundowning."

Has anyone observed this phenomenon in the pediatric home care population? Is that possible? I know it's more commonly associated with Alzheimer's patients.

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I have only heard that term and observed the behavior in geriatrics. May I ask what the patient's diagnosis is?

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Specializes in Acute Mental Health.

Never seen it in peds, but I don't work peds. Now in geriatrics.....lots and lots!

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

With peds, change in mood to me suggests crankiness r/t nap time or bedtime!

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Can't say that I've ever encountered this in ped hh.

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Not with Peds. Geriatrics all the time.

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Specializes in LTC, Memory loss, PDN.
Not with Peds. Geriatrics all the time.

ditto

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Specializes in Pediatric.

Thanks for the replies, all.

After talking to the PCG and another nurse on the case, I think this behavior is more closely related to one of the following:

1.) side effects related to Keppra (pt has been on Keppra about 2 years and this behavior started shortly after.)

2.) Possible DX of depression

3.) Related to the family stopping all interaction shortly after patient was trached.

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Good sleuthing. All those reasons sound like good possibilities.

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I finally realized it today that the recent behavior I saw in a home pediatric patient in the evening in a South Miami community home was sundowning. I'd never seen anything like it in a child before.

He didn't respond to his mother, at bedtime which he always sought her out, even the sound of her voice. secondly, he wouldn't sleep for long after he normally does, and his agitation was off the charts.

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Correction. The behavior is concerning but could not be sundowning at all. Due to no underlying dementia. Sundowning would not be possible. There might be behavioral puzzles, but sundowning would not present in the very young, whose brains are still developing rapidly.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Correction. The behavior is concerning but could not be sundowning at all. Due to no underlying dementia. Sundowning would not be possible. There might be behavioral puzzles, but sundowning would not present in the very young, whose brains are still developing rapidly.

Unless the brain is not developing normally? Any thoughts on that?

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