Back
About us

Contact MacIntyre

Whatever your query, we’ll help you to find the right person to speak to you and answer your questions as quickly as possible.

Get in touch with us
About us Our Values Governance Publications Inspection reports Awards Memberships and accreditations
Find Support

Are you looking for residential support for an adult?

We currently have a number of vacancies where we can offer 24/7 support.

View residential vacancies

Contact MacIntyre

Have a query about support in your area?

Get in touch with us
Find Support Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Cheshire Derbyshire Greater Manchester Hampshire Herefordshire Hertfordshire Leicestershire London Oxfordshire Shropshire Wales Worcestershire
For Adults

Are you looking for residential support for an adult?

We currently have a number of vacancies where we can offer 24/7 support.

View residential vacancies

Contact MacIntyre

Get in touch to discuss your support needs.

Get in touch with us
For Adults Day Opportunities Employment Great Communities Registered Care Shared Lives Supported Living Residential Vacancies
For Children

Are you looking for a special school?

MacIntyre School provides education and care for children and young people aged between 10 and 19.

Find out more
For Children Academies Further Education - No Limits MacIntyre School Residential Support Supported Living Transition
Our Approach

About MacIntyre

Discover more about the organisation and the people behind the work we do

Discover more about the organisation

Resources

Free leaflets, documents and videos to help with the care of your loved ones

Discover more about the organisation
Our Approach Autism Communication Death and Dying Dementia Families Great Interactions Health Health and Safety Intensive Interaction Learning Disability Person Centred Approaches Positive Behaviour Support Resources Safeguarding Transforming Care Voice of the people we support
Get Involved

Make a difference to the lives of the people we support

Donate
Get Involved Campaigns Corporate Support MacIntyre Lottery Wills and Legacies FAQ Fundraising Terms and Conditions
News and Blogs
Events
Careers

Contact us

Have you got questions about working at MacIntyre?

Get in touch with us

Current vacancies

If you have the right attitude, good customer service skills, share our values and are willing to learn, you’re likely to be a great fit.

View current opportunities
Careers Current Vacancies Work for us 10 best things about MacIntyre Diversity and Inclusion Employee Benefits How to apply How to write an effective CV Recruitment FAQs Safer Recruitment Students and Graduates Volunteer Working in Wales
Donate Search

What is sundowning?

25 May 2021
News

Imagine waking up in an unfamiliar bed and not recognising your surroundings. You pace a dimly lit hallway that isn't yours, filled with framed photos of smiling faces you just can't place. You don't know how to get out or how you are going to get home.

What if someone told you that you are, in fact, at home? Anyone would feel anxious at the thought, but for people with dementia, this is often a reality that begins as soon as the sun starts to set.

For many people with dementia, feelings of distress and intense anxiety can emerge in the late afternoon and continue into the night, which is often known as 'sundowning'. This anxiety can present itself through stress and anger, or the person may begin to feel lost, for example asking to 'go home' when they are in their own home.


Why does sundowning happen?

There are lots of reasons why sundowning occurs. One of the reasons may be due to tiredness, resulting in their symptoms worsening. Contributing factors also include feeling hungry or thirsty. Other factors may include experiencing pain, which may be common in those who experience chronic pain.


How do you support someone through sundowning?

If a loved one, or someone you support, is experiencing sundowning, it can be difficult to know the right thing to say or do and if it runs into the night, can make the person and those supporting them even more tired. Thankfully there are several methods to support sundowning as it happens.


Tips for managing sundowning as it happens

Use distraction techniques:

  • You could go into a different room with the person
  • Support them to make a drink or a snack
  • Listen to some soothing music


Offer comfort:

  • Ask the person to talk through their concerns and listen carefully to the response. If possible, see if you can deal with the source of their distress
  • Talk in a slow, soothing way
  • Hold the person’s hand, or sit close to them and stroke their arm (if they are comfortable with touch)


Tips for preventing sundowning

  • Follow a routine during the day that contains activities the person enjoys
  • Introduce an evening routine with activities the person enjoys, such as: watching their favourite programme, listening to music, stroking a pet etc. 
  • Try to keep television or radio stations set to something calming and relatively quiet sudden loud noises or people shouting can be distressing for a person with dementia
  • Going outside for a walk, or visit the shops
  • Limit the person’s intake of caffeinated drinks and support the person to refrain from drinking alcohol, if possible. Caffeine-free tea, coffee and cola are available, as is alcohol-free beer and wine
  • Try and limit the person’s naps during the day to encourage them to sleep well at night instead
  • Close the curtains and turn the lights on before dusk begins, to ease the transition into nighttime
  • If possible, cover mirrors or glass doors. Reflections can be confusing for someone with dementia
  • Once you are in for the evening, speak in short sentences and give simple instructions to the person, to try and limit their confusion
  • Avoid large meals in the evening as this can disrupt sleep patterns


For further information and advice on sundowning, visit:

  • Sundowning (changes in behaviour at dusk) - Dementia UK
  • Sleep and dementia - Dementia UK
  • Dealing with restlessness - Dementia UK
  • Down’s syndrome and dementia. A resource for carers and support staff - Dr. Karen Dodd, Vicky Turk and Michelle Christmas 
  • Easyhealth.org
  • Resources – bild
  • Books Beyond Words about dementia - booksbeyondwords.co.uk

Webinars for staff

Do you work at MacIntyre? Do you support someone with dementia? Join Jane Nickels, our Learning Disability Admiral Nurse for exclusive webinars and drop-in sessions for MacIntyre staff. The next topic will be on 'Dementia and Changes in Behaviour'.

  • Topic: Dementia and Changes in Behaviour
  • Date: 27 May
  • Time: 11 am

To sign up to this webinar log in to the Intranet and refresh this page.

More about how we support people with Dementia

Dementia

We have expertise in supporting people with dementia or at risk of developing dementia.

Find Out More
19 May 2022
News

Dementia Action Week 2022

Over the next few days MacIntyre will be sharing a variety of resources for Dementia Action Week.

Find Out More
16 Feb 2022
News

MacIntyre Memory Cafe in Chesterfield is back!

The MacIntyre Memory Cafés offer a fun, welcoming and relaxing environment for people to take part in social activities.

Find Out More
17 Nov 2021
News

Nursing Times Workforce Awards tonight!

We're wishing our incredible Learning Disabilities Admiral Nurse Jane Nickels and our Health, Dementia and Wellbeing team luck at the Awards tonight.

Find Out More
Important Links
Data Protection and Privacy Policy Slavery & Human Trafficking Policy Statement Working Safely in Offices
Connect with us
MacInStars Employee of the Month Contact Us Our Newsletter Shops
Follow us
Registered Charity No. 250840

Seebeck House
1 Seebeck Place
Knowlhill
Milton Keynes
MK5 8FR
© 2023 MacIntyre. All rights reserved
Site by Grandad.digital