Domain: tiger-web1.srvr.media3.us Reverse Sundowning in the Elderly | O-T Lounge
Started By
Message

Reverse Sundowning in the Elderly

Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:05 pm
Posted by deeprig9
Unincorporated Ozora
Member since Sep 2012
74027 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:05 pm
My father has the reverse of Sundowning. He's pretty loopy in the mornings, rambly, dementia-y. But by noon and through the rest of the day and night, he's perfectly lucid and normal. I've tried to google this, it all points me to regular sundowning.

Anyone know about or experienced this reverse version?
Posted by GRTiger
On a roof eating alligator pie
Member since Dec 2008
69519 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:06 pm to
Does he take meds at night with side effects that could explain it?

Posted by 777Tiger
Member since Mar 2011
90085 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:06 pm to
quote:

Anyone know about or experienced this reverse version?


are you in the southern hemisphere?
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
80209 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:07 pm to
Could be related to dehydration.

Dehydrate during the night, and as they get fluids they become more coherent.
This post was edited on 1/31/26 at 2:08 pm
Posted by Penrod
Member since Jan 2011
53304 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:08 pm to
quote:

are you in the southern hemisphere?

Elite riposte!

BTW, My bet is on that dehydration comment above.
This post was edited on 1/31/26 at 2:09 pm
Posted by Stexas
SWLA
Member since May 2013
6886 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:08 pm to
My wife’s aunt is dealing with Alzheimer’s currently and we’ve found visiting her in the afternoon and early evening is the best for everyone
Posted by Shut Up Mulllet
Member since Apr 2021
983 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:09 pm to
I agree with the meds he took the night before.
Probably a medication hangover.
Posted by BigD45
The Boot!
Member since Feb 2007
2281 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:15 pm to
quote:

are you in the southern hemisphere?


I'm in Alaska right now, so there is barely any upping or downing.
Posted by 777Tiger
Member since Mar 2011
90085 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:18 pm to
quote:

I'm in Alaska right now, so there is barely any upping or downing.


just joshing with you but dementia/Alzheimer’s is tough to deal with, for all concerned, went through that with my dad, good luck
Posted by BigD45
The Boot!
Member since Feb 2007
2281 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:25 pm to
quote:

just joshing with you but dementia/Alzheimer’s is tough to deal with, for all concerned, went through that with my dad, good luck


Yeah, it sucks. My grandmother had it.
Posted by ob1pimpbobi
College Station
Member since Jul 2022
3165 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 2:27 pm to
My dad has dementia and it’s a nightmare.
Posted by DavidStHubbins
Member since Oct 2012
39 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 5:32 pm to
That is basically sundowning. Theres no reverse. It’s delirium.
This post was edited on 1/31/26 at 5:37 pm
Posted by yakster
Member since Mar 2021
3732 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 7:25 pm to
My mom had dementia with sundowners. At 4:00 every afternoon she would tell my dad that she was ready to go home to her mama and daddy’s house. My grandparents had been gone probably 40 years. It’s a cruel disease.
Posted by Jim Rockford
Member since May 2011
104583 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 7:37 pm to
quote:

It’s a cruel disease


People think it's just forgetfulness. If it was just that it would be relatively easy to deal with. There can be personality changes, delusions, hallucinations, violent outbursts. When I think of my mother now, it's of the eight years of hardship and misery she and we went through. It's hard to remember the smart, kind, talented person she was before. I hope with the passage of time it will be easier to remember the way she used to be.

We don’t let animals suffer like that. We shouldn't force people to.
Posted by Will Cover
Davidson, NC
Member since Mar 2007
40021 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 7:42 pm to
quote:

At 4:00 every afternoon she would tell my dad that she was ready to go home to her mama and daddy’s house. My grandparents had been gone probably 40 years.


If you’re caring for someone with dementia or cognitive decline, here’s something that can help you: when they tell you a story or describe a situation that’s from another time, go there with them. Don’t try to pull them back to the present. You can’t. And arguing or correcting them only makes things harder for everyone, and increases their anxiety.

Instead, ask about it. Ask who’s there. Ask what’s happening. Ask what it feels like. Meet them where they are.

It’s okay to say you don’t remember it the same way they do. What matters is being with them in that moment, not proving what’s true.

This is a skillset that you will need to develop in order to help stay "connected" to your love one. The real skills that you're developing are the words patience, compassion, and understanding and those will serve you well with your loved one --- and in life outside of caring for someone with dementia.
This post was edited on 1/31/26 at 7:43 pm
Posted by liz18lsu
Member since Feb 2009
17972 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 8:20 pm to
quote:

If you’re caring for someone with dementia or cognitive decline, here’s something that can help you: when they tell you a story or describe a situation that’s from another time, go there with them. Don’t try to pull them back to the present. You can’t. And arguing or correcting them only makes things harder for everyone, and increases their anxiety.

Instead, ask about it. Ask who’s there. Ask what’s happening. Ask what it feels like. Meet them where they are.

It’s okay to say you don’t remember it the same way they do. What matters is being with them in that moment, not proving what’s true.

This is a skillset that you will need to develop in order to help stay "connected" to your love one. The real skills that you're developing are the words patience, compassion, and understanding and those will serve you well with your loved one --- and in life outside of caring for someone with dementia.


Great advice. My husband's dad is dealing with demitia, in his late 80's. His Mom, in her mid 80's gets so frustrated with him. I told her to laugh and enjoy her time with him. I know it insn't easy. She gets so hung up on petty things and gets angry with him. He isn't the man she married.
Posted by yakster
Member since Mar 2021
3732 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 8:29 pm to
People with dementia don’t know they have dementia. Are you suggesting euthanasia?
Posted by Golfanatic
SW Louisiana
Member since Jan 2023
38 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 8:29 pm to
LINK

Article reviews symptoms, treatment, possible etiology, etc of sundowners. Paragraph near the end of the article states this can happen in the morning with some patients.
Posted by GRTiger
On a roof eating alligator pie
Member since Dec 2008
69519 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 8:32 pm to
I just said in another thread that I didn't hear my dad curse until I golfed with him.

I didn't hear my mom curse until she was deep in the throes of dementia. She was not even close to the same lady she was the last 5 years of her life.
Posted by El Es Shu
Louisiana
Member since Oct 2008
639 posts
Posted on 1/31/26 at 9:46 pm to
Happened with my Dad. It was a combination of things - namely low blood sugar in the morning - but he had multiple issues going on. Tough battle.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram