My husband has just started Sundowning as I believe it is called.
Started when he was suffering with gout, but has now been going on for about 2 months.
Found lots of reasons for it to be something else, but had to admit in the end that this is what is happening. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 7 years ago after showing earlier signs probably 10 years ago. He diagnosed himself after picking up a leaflet in the doctors.
He has never been aggressive although gets grumpy at times, and also stubborn.
When he is awake at night, he is a completely different person to the "normal" person he usually is, mainly constantly apologising for "being like this", and wanting fresh air, either at a window or walking outside the house. Not wanting to go back to bed.
My husband also suffers from heart failure which limits his activities, he does not have the energy to venture far and in fact is walking more now wandering round the house than he has done for some years. That is a mixed blessing.
I have asked if there is any medication that can give him some respite from his agitation but am told that there isn't.
So far I havnt discussed this with his psychiatric nurse but I suppose that is the next step if it becomes too difficult to manage.
At the moment it is happening probably 2 or 3 times a week, it may start at bedtime when he complains that he doesn't feel settled, this is the worst one as I am usually tired, otherwise he wakes in the middle of the night, as is happening now,he woke at 3.00am and it is now 5.00am
Reading other people's comments, I realise that I am having it easy, but I would still like to know if there is any way I can help my husband with this latest development.