Behavior Guidance
Sundowning — why afternoons get hard, and what helps
Sundowning is the cluster of agitation, restlessness, confusion or anxiety that often shows up in late afternoon and early evening. It's exhausting — and it's manageable.
Updated 2026-02-15
Written and clinically reviewed by Ashlee Skabla Velez, APRN, ACNPC-AG
Dementia care and caregiver-support specialist
Need help applying this to your situation?
What's actually happening
By late afternoon, the brain is tired. The internal body clock is wobbly in dementia. Add fading light, hunger, a full bladder, and a day of effort — and you get agitation that can look like a different person walked in the door.
What to try first (tonight)
- Light. Turn on every overhead and lamp 30 minutes BEFORE sundown. Close blinds against fading-light shadows.
- Hunger and toileting. A small snack and a bathroom trip before agitation starts.
- Calm input. Soft music your loved one knew at 25–40 years old. No news, no shouting kids on a tablet.
- Lower the demand. Stop trying to teach, correct, or finish tasks. Just be next to them.
- Walk. A 10-minute slow walk often resets agitation better than any drug.
What NOT to do
- Don't argue with the false belief ("I need to pick up the kids"). Validate the feeling, redirect the activity.
- Don't reach for a benzodiazepine (Ativan, Xanax) as a first move — they often worsen confusion and falls.
- Don't take agitation personally. The behavior is a symptom, not directed at you.
Frequently asked questions
- What time of day is sundowning?
- Typically 3 PM to 8 PM, sometimes lasting into the night. The first sign is often subtle — restlessness, pacing, wanting to leave.
- Does melatonin help with sundowning?
- Modest evidence at low dose (0.5–3 mg) about 30 minutes before the usual agitation. Talk to the prescriber — it interacts with some medications.
- When should we call the doctor?
- If agitation is new, severe, or comes with confusion plus fever, pain, or a fall — same day. If it's been creeping up over weeks — at the next visit.
Every dementia journey is different.
Memory Lane Care helps you understand what applies to your loved one, what to expect next, and which resources fit your family's situation.
Need help applying this to your situation?
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