Sundowning

banditrn · Aug 7, 2006

I have several residents that are up all night. I also know that they were shift workers and worked mostly nights. They are also Alzhiemer's patients and are pretty well progressed. They pace, they cry, they beg for their families and people who are long dead. Reorienting helps sometimes. Others it does not. Typically what I have done is just allow them to do what ever they want until they have exhausted themselves.
When I get old, if some one tries to get me out of bed before I am ready you can bet I am going to be nasty. If they try to feed me food I don't want, you can bet I am going to be nasty then too. I doubt I will be a very compliant resident in any LTC facility.

I agree, Whimsy, but this facility doesn't staff well at nite - only two of us - and between the two of us, we spend a great deal of time in his room. The thing that irritates me about this situation is this - they recently MOVED this fella into a room even further from the nurses station - his other roommate wasn't bothered by the noise he makes, and didn't care if we left the low lite on. Now they put him into a room with a roommate that can't sleep thru all of it, and needs it dark to sleep!!

And, if anything, the first gent is even more agitated - his call lite is on every 5 to 10 minutes, and most of the time he doesn't know WHAT he wants. I don't think his family should have consented to letting them move him, but I'm sure that they didn't have all the info.

I've thought about putting him in a recliner in the lounge by the nurses station and letting him watch TV - the problem with that is that we can't always be in the area to watch him, and he'd have no call lite that way.

chadash · Aug 7, 2006

I agree, Whimsy, but this facility doesn't staff well at nite - only two of us - and between the two of us, we spend a great deal of time in his room. The thing that irritates me about this situation is this - they recently MOVED this fella into a room even further from the nurses station - his other roommate wasn't bothered by the noise he makes, and didn't care if we left the low lite on. Now they put him into a room with a roommate that can't sleep thru all of it, and needs it dark to sleep!!
And, if anything, the first gent is even more agitated - his call lite is on every 5 to 10 minutes, and most of the time he doesn't know WHAT he wants. I don't think his family should have consented to letting them move him, but I'm sure that they didn't have all the info.
I've thought about putting him in a recliner in the lounge by the nurses station and letting him watch TV - the problem with that is that we can't always be in the area to watch him, and he'd have no call lite that way.

Once the sun downing begins, I think it is important for these patients to be in an Alzheimer's unit to avoid disturbing the other residents, and for their safety.

The night time staffing in an alzheimer's unit really is different from other units. I think you need to address this with your management. Except for not having meals and activities, things keep rolling all night. Done both regular LTC , and Alzheimer's unit on nightshift, and they are as different as day and night (oops!) :lol2:

You may need more NAs for more hands and eyes...

weirdRN, RN · Aug 7, 2006

Here's to wishing you many years in excellant health and never needing to become a resident in (my) nursing home!!

:roll :roll :roll

AMEN! I hope I go quick. That I attend a party the night before and dance until the wee hours of the morning and die peacefully in my own bed. I wish that for everyone.

banditrn · Aug 9, 2006

Once the sun downing begins, I think it is important for these patients to be in an Alzheimer's unit to avoid disturbing the other residents, and for their safety.
The night time staffing in an alzheimer's unit really is different from other units. I think you need to address this with your management. Except for not having meals and activities, things keep rolling all night. Done both regular LTC , and Alzheimer's unit on nightshift, and they are as different as day and night (oops!)
You may need more NAs for more hands and eyes...

Oh, chadash, I've addressed it with management - they don't seem to care!! When I talked to the DON about the 'other' resident not getting any sleep thru all this, she said "Too bad - he's a nasty old man anyhow." Granted, he can be, but I asked what that had to do with anything? He pays for his half of the room, and deserves to be able to sleep at night. :madface:

And having more NA's?:rotfl: :rotfl: I'm told that the 'corporation' won't allow it.