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I spoke about my husband before on this forum. His Alzheimer's diagnosis was in 2019. Things weren't too bad until recently but I have seen decline in the past year and a half. Lately he was always asking about his mother. I did make up stories to ease his mind. Now the evenings into wee hours of the morning are getting worse. Last night he talked about her all night and wanted to know why she moved but didn't let him know. Plus worrying about how he has no money and can't help me pay the bills. I've been reassuring him all along not to worry and that I have been taking care of everything. He just is not mentally there anymore. Today was the first day I helped him take a bath, because he almost fell in the shower the other day. I ordered a shower seat for him. I am pretty sure he is in stage6 of dementia even though he is not bedridden or incontinent. He is 79 and I am 68. I am so exhausted from lack of sleep and caring for myself. Would love some input on this subject and thank you.

My wife's sundowning has gotten worse the past couple of months. Her Neurologist controls her Quitepine/Seroquel prescription. I contacted his office and and he called back and did a phone visit with us. Based on that, he increased her dosage by 25mg. That has made a huge difference. She's able to stay in bed most of the night and she hasn't cussed me out in a week now. She's still tormented by her delusions, but it's better. The way the Dr wrote the new script I have some flexibility to add another 25mg if needed. But, I'll hold off doing that until she starts cussing me again as she wanders through the house at night.

The point here is: call his doctor, PCP, Neurologist or who ever.
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Reply to jwellsy
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Time to speak to his doc, Cheeky. If you can't get a handle on some of this then taking care of him at home isn't sustainable; it would pass then into a 24/7 job requiring a team of caregivers in shifts. Not doable by one person.

So speak to the doc. Make an appointment. Tell the doc about the extreme agitation and upset that is really keeping his poor mind in a state of torment and the home in chaos. Tell him that if you cannot find some medication that could work you may not be able to go on. There ARE medications that can bring some peace in many cases. Time to try them!

I wish you the best and hope you'll update.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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You sound like you need help. Think about placing your husband in a memory care facility nearby. You can visit him and have time to yourself. Sorry you're having a tough time. You must be very torn apart? Even though you are still young, this situation is not sustainable. You are very dedicated, but think about the future before your husband's health become more dire.
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Reply to Onlychild2024
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Ativan helped my mother quite a bit with the agitation she experienced with Sundowning. Speak to your DHs doctor about calming meds and sleep meds as well. You can also ask for a hospice referral from the doctor. Have you considered placing him in Memory Care Assisted Living?
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Cheeky79 Oct 4, 2024
I have been trying to hold off on getting him on to medicaid, but I think Medicare
does pay for hospice. I have to call his
neurologist. Thank you.
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When Mom's sundowning got bad we gave her 400 mg of magnesium glycinate.

I would say we got maybe 80% improvement. It has been so long ago (Mom had alzheimers for close to 20 years) we may have staggered the two pills. We may have also given 1 ea 200 mg magnesium glycinate at 2:00 and 1ea 200 mg of magnesium glycinate at 6:00 pm. Timing is something that you may have to experiment with. I believe there was a period when we
gave her both pills 2 each of 200 mg magnesium glycinate at 4:00 pm. Like I said, I'd experiment on the timing.

With the magnesium glycinate we got:

--about 80% improvement with sundowning
--she slept through the night
--it helped with regularity (make sure to use the glycinate version to prevent loose stools)
--she wasn't all drugged out
--it lessened anxiety, I'd say we got around 80% improvement

We had Mom on the magnesium glycinate for many, many, many years and specifically started it for the sundowning.
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Reply to brandee
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My mother (97) had sundowning that was atrocious. It would go on for over 2 hours and could erupt at any time of the night. Her anxiety was next-level.

The first thing I did was stop the MiraLax. Within 2 months, 80% of the sundowning had stopped. (This was 2020.)

I replaced the MiraLax with Milk of Magnesia and it's been a lifesaver. I give it to her when she hasn't pooped in a couple of days and it never fails.

Because she no longer swallows pills or capsules easily, I use a liquid magnesium spray called "Calm" which I apply to her lower back and her lower legs.

For those rare nights she is still unable to get quiet, I'll give her a melatonin gummy.

I also have Ativan which I hardly ever use - and then only a squirt in her mouth - because it wrecks her mobility.
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Reply to southiebella
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Cheeky79: Unfortunately you may have to consider managed care facility living for your husband where he would have a whole team of caregivers as his sole caregiver, you, is exhausted.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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You can consider hiring aids from an agency to give you breaks throughout the week or in the evenings. It will be less expensive that MC right now.

Your husband will most likely go through a period of rejection or adjustment before he acclimates to a new person in the house. You can tell him the helper is there for you.

Care.com or browser search for ""caregiving agencies near me"
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Reply to Geaton777
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Talk to the doctor about medications to ease his anxiety.

Get a caregiver/aide to come in a couple days a week to help, so you can take a break. You need self care.

Medications may help him to calm down and sleep at nights.

I had to move out of the bedroom I shared with my husband, and started sleeping in the spare bedroom a couple years ago. He would keep me up at night and I find that he yells for my help when he sees me, but if I am out of sight, he is quiet and calm (well, sometimes).

In my case, my husband does not have a deteriorating condition, but suffered vascular dementia as a result of a massive stroke 9 years ago, so he has actually shown progressively increased cognition over the years - although to a very small degree. And is otherwise a healthy 63 year old. So I'm not dealing with a decline.

It is so sad to watch your loved one go through this. I wish you well.
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Reply to CaringWifeAZ
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MikeinTexas Oct 10, 2024
You really are a wonderful person and spouse. Nine years of dealing with even minor effects of the disease is amazing. My wife, who also has vascular dementia due to a stroke, was relatively ok until she had breast cancer at Christmas time last year. The angst of the cancer and anesthesia caused her condition to deteriorate very quickly. Be aware of how something similar can affect his condition. Good luck. Prayers.
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When having early onset Alzheimer's, how does one qualify for hospice care under medicare? -Im going through this horrible disease with my husband as well. Im overwhelmed and had to quit my job to take care of him. It's heartbreaking how there isnt any support health wise and financially.
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Reply to patience101
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Cruiseforever Oct 10, 2024
I called a local hospice to evaluate my husband in Feb and they labeled him as end stage dementia. He has an aide to shower him 2x/week although I could have them 5 days if needed. He goes to daycare 3x a week and that's a huge break for me!
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