Photo of woman with head in her hands being comforted

What is ‘sundowning’ and why does it happen?

The set of behaviours commonly described as “sundowning” often includes (but is not limited to) confusion, anxiety, agitation, pacing and “shadowing” others.

Published: 11 July 2023
  • national
  • 11 July 2023
  • The Conversation

It may look different depending on the stage of dementia, the person’s personality and past behaviour patterns, and the presence of specific triggers.

Why then, do such altered behaviours tend to happen at specific times of the day? And what should you do when it happens to your loved one?