During the day she is perfectly normal. She is a little slow but that is something that comes with age a lot of times. At night she gets really antzy. She rocks in the rocking chair really fast. She will walk to different parts of the living room and just rest there. She will sit in the recliner, moan, groan, and talk to herself. She was watching a commertial and they said "pink" and she just kept saying "pink." When they said "blue" she kept saying "blue." She claims she can't sleep but she never tries. What could it be? I have never seen this kind of behavior before. (Well, I have seen her do it a lot, but not in anyone else.)
2007-09-16 23:11:31 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Senior Citizens
It could be a lot of things. First take her to the doctor and get her checked out.
If the medical doctor don't find anything then take her to the psychologist she may be depressed.
It doesn't sound like dementia or Alzheimer's from what you have described.
2007-09-16 23:25:14 · answer #1 · answered by DrMichael 7 · 11⤊ 1⤋
This is called "sun downing" by folks who are referring to the erratic activities that folks with Alzheimer's start doing when the sun goes down in the evenings. Those suffering from dementia might also I'm not sure. Anyway, they become agitated sometimes, and frenetic and sometimes acting bizarrely like being afraid to have window shades open at night, grumbling or talking to themselves, grunting, groaning, repetitively rocking and acting nervously; saying someone's watching them or trying to get them.
You really need to get your mom 'evaluated' and checked out by a doctor. At the very least you could get some mild sedatives for her so she can calm down and rest better at night.
2007-09-18 16:33:26 · answer #2 · answered by autumlovr 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've heard this condition described as "Sun-downers." I noticed my mother-in-law and several other residents at her nursing home would behave like that in the evening, after supper. Maybe they are just tired and fighting sleep like little children will do?
You are kind to spend time with your grandmother. She probably should not be living alone. The confusion in the evenings may continue throughout the night. Falls, mixed up medications, night terrors.... all these things seem to start happening too.
2007-09-18 22:23:00 · answer #3 · answered by Miz D 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The name of the symptom she has is "echolalia," which simply means the patient is repeating a word said by someone else. She appears from your description to have picked up on color words, but often the person repeats the last word they heard from a speaker or the word that was most accentuated.
She may benefit from medication that would increase her sleep at night, since night-time restlessness is one of the symptoms of senile dementia.
I'm not certain whether you have the authority within your family to take your grandmother to the doctor, but you certainly have the authority to notify the doctor of your observations. What's more, you can ask to accompany her the next time she visits her physician.
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2007-09-17 07:47:29 · answer #4 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I do agree that she seems to be locked in the "Sun Down Syndrome".
There is a real possibility that medication can help her. A trip to the Doctor is in order.
Sun Down Syndrome is associated with early stage dementia in some instances, so her Physician may want some tests. This is all in her best interest.
2007-09-17 19:47:59 · answer #5 · answered by Cranky 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It sounds a little like dementia - you should take her to her doctor and have them check this out. She could also be suffering from Sun Downer's - another words because she is older when the sun goes down mentally she has some trouble adjusting. Either way you should take her to her doctor.
2007-09-17 07:37:56 · answer #6 · answered by Mr. Nobody 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Nights are very hard and older people miss what was more than ever so try and sit with her or hire someone to be with her at night, Good Luck
2007-09-17 08:55:08 · answer #7 · answered by Gypsy Gal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called SUN DOWNERS. It is like an illness that happens to some seniors. If you talk to her doctor he may have some ideas on what to do. It happens to a lot of Seniors.
2007-09-18 23:34:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I agree with Sun downers. It is quite common not only in the elderly but with many brain injury patients also. A Dr. could help her tremendously. A little nigh time medication and she will be herself.
2007-09-17 07:10:00 · answer #9 · answered by Southern Comfort 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
This may sound crass, but maybe she misses your grandfather and just needs someone to sleep with? We old folks do have the same needs and desires as young people do.
2007-09-17 10:35:02 · answer #10 · answered by Ray T 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋