08/11/2026
The first sign may be a question you hear every evening. “Is it time to go home?” Or you may notice that the person you love starts pacing while you’re getting dinner ready. As the days get shorter, pay attention to when it happens. What does the room look like at that hour? What else is going on around them?
Daylight is one of the signals the brain uses to tell time. Light entering the eyes sends information to the brain’s internal clock, which helps regulate when we feel alert and when we feel sleepy. Alzheimer’s can disrupt that rhythm. And as daylight fades, shadows can make a familiar room harder to recognize. For some people living with dementia, late afternoon or evening brings more confusion or restlessness. This pattern is called sundowning.
Try something small tomorrow. Open the curtains at breakfast, or enjoy your morning coffee together outside if the weather allows. If your person usually gets unsettled while you’re making dinner, turn on the lamps in the rooms they use before dusk. Later, soften the lights and return to a familiar bedtime routine.
And if they ask to go home while sitting in their own living room, try sitting beside them and saying, “I’m here with you. Would you like some tea?” A familiar voice and a small, familiar ritual can make that moment feel easier.
© Dementia Care At Home
