He STAYS awake all night. I am thinking it is sundowners. He will stay in the bathroom for hours if I don't coax him out. He gets deathly afraid of "something". He is on seraquel 100 mg and trazadone 10mg both at night. He stares in the same spot thinking something is coming to harm him and all of us living here. Space is limited and I can't move him in my home. He has spent time in his home (where he does not remember he owned). He has wandered from my home and his home feeling "they" are after him. He seems to be fine during the day but sundown seems to be getting worse. I try to talk and put something in the space he thinks is torturing. To no avail. We are Medicaid pending and I have been looking into homes. Trying to work out finances BEFORE we officially apply. Keeping him active during the day but night time is very exhausting for him and I !! Need advice on sundowners
Sometimes jobs affect us in ways that are reflected even before we're old. I still have dreams/nightmares of being fired from a law firm because I couldn't keep my billables up to the level demanded of paralegals. I hate to think of what those dreams will segue into in 10 or 20 years.
VegasLady, I'm sorry to learn that your husband has moved out, unless that was an agreement that was mutual. Still, I'm thinking that there's a void left by his absence. I hope you're okay and moving on?
I see you tried putting something in that spot but to no avail. Wonder if using some type of spray and pretend it will keep the "people" away, or by installing a special light that will shine on the spot to scare away the "people". Children usually accept this, not sure about an elder.
What did he enjoy doing? Can he still work puzzles, play cards, or are those too difficult? Could you get him to set the table and help you prepare for dinner?
I do think though that something else is going on which sounds like some type of anxiety or paranoia. Could you try the meds at different times, as they might be keeping him away at night? Is he on Seroquel for depression or another illness?
It's not clear to me if he's living alone or with you.