It's like hitting a switch and Nanny changes into this insecure, forgetful, childish, and pitiful person that I've never known her to be. It's almost like she has Alzheimer's, but her mind was very clear before this last surgery, and it is still clear during the day. My daughter told me this type of mood disorder is called "sundowners syndrome." I looked it up online.
Sundowners syndrome, also known as sundowning, is a condition in which sufferers (particularly the elderly) experience periods of extreme agitation and confusion during the late afternoon or early evening hours. Some patients may be irritable toward caregivers or hospital staff. It is believed that sundowners syndrome is related to the decreased amount of light in the evening and night hours. It can be caused by drug interactions or stress associated with lower cognitive function. About 45% of elderly patients who have had anesthesia are affected by sundowners syndrome.
When sundowners syndrome hits in the evening, Nanny wants someone to stay in the room with her. If Mom or I hold her hand, she will doze off, but if she is alone, she can't sleep and she repeatedly calls us to come hither. We were up with Nanny for about four hours last night. No wonder my mom is exhausted. She's been staying up at night with Nanny for the past two weeks, and still has to handle meal preparation, keep Nanny's medicines on schedule, bathe her, change her diapers, and do all the household chores. Mom has been handling Nanny's care for almost a year since Nanny fell and broke her hip last November. Nanny was cooperating with physical therapy and eating well. Now she is so weak, she can't even roll over to help mom dress her.
My mom turns 70 this December. We are going to have to hire some help before this pace affects her health.
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2 comments:
I’m dealing with this with my mom right now and don’t know how to handle it emotionally. She is presently on her 4th day in the hospital and at night she fights the nurses and calls me and begs to go home. I don’t know what to do.
This is likely the hardest thing to deal with at the end of a loved one's life. Reassure her that her time will come when it's the best alignment for her soul to depart. Take care of yourself as well.
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