sundowning
1
9.8
A time in the late afternoon or evening when a person with dementia becomes more confused and agitated
- noun
- /ˈsʌnˌdaʊnɪŋ/
- Specialized
:
sundowning
- The nursing staff is trained to assist residents who experience sundowning, which can be distressing for those with memory issues.
Examples
-
The symptoms of sundowning can include increased confusion and agitation in people living with dementia during the evening.
-
The sundowning has come.
Fiction book (1996) -
It's called Sundowning.
-
"Sundowning"—cognitive and behavioral changes that take place in the late afternoon or early evening—occurs for a range of reasons.
Academic text (2010) -
Many caregivers notice that sundowning often causes Alzheimer's patients to become restless and disoriented as it gets dark.
Antonyms
How Agitated
delirium
18
8.5
- Specialized
18
8.5
sundowning
1
9.8
- Specialized
1
9.8
confusion
351
1.8
351
1.8
restlessness
11
3.8
11
3.8
calmness
11
2.7
11
2.7
Surface Forms
sundowning singular
sundownings plural
Morphology
Etymology
The word sundowning comes from sundown ('sun going down' or 'evening') plus the ending -ing that shows a state or action. So, sundowning describes the increased confusion or agitation some people, especially those with dementia, often have as the sun goes down.