Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Sundown syndrome in institutionalized elderly.

L K Evans

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
    |February 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Sundown syndrome, characterized by increased restlessness and verbal behavior in the evening, affects approximately one in eight nursing home residents. Dementia and specific physiological and psychosocial factors are associated with its occurrence.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    Psychiatric-mental health nursing at the interface: revisioning education for the specialty.

    Issues in mental health nursing·2002
    Same author

    Elderly patients memories of physical restraint use in the intensive care unit (ICU).

    American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses·2001
    Same author

    Responding to safety issues in frontotemporal dementias.

    Neurology·2001
    Same author

    Balanced Budget Act of 1997 impact on a nurse-managed academic nursing practice for frail elders.

    Nursing economic$·2000
    Same author

    Initiation of physical restraint in nursing home residents following restraint reduction efforts.

    Research in nursing & health·1999
    Same author

    Predictors of continued physical restraint use in nursing home residents following restraint reduction efforts.

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·1999
    Same journal

    An Electronic Health Record "Nudge" to Reduce Antipsychotic Medication Prescribing for Primary Care Patients With Dementia: A Pragmatic RCT.

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·2026
    Same journal

    Reasons That Older Adults are Unable to Identify a Healthcare Agent.

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·2026
    Same journal

    Assigning Probable Dementia Status Using Routinely Collected Electronic Health Record Data.

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·2026
    Same journal

    Caregiver Burden at the Onset of Acute Hospital-At-Home.

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·2026
    Same journal

    Utilization Patterns Among Heterogeneous Subgroups of Homebound Older Adults: A Latent Class Analysis.

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·2026
    Same journal

    Off-Label Initiation of Gabapentin and Valproic Acid Among Long-Stay Nursing Home Residents With and Without Dementia.

    Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·2026
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Gerontology
    • Psychiatry
    • Nursing Home Care

    Background:

    • Sundown syndrome is a behavioral change often observed in elderly individuals, particularly those in long-term care settings.
    • Understanding the factors contributing to sundown syndrome is crucial for improving patient care and quality of life.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To describe the characteristics of sundown syndrome in nursing home residents.
    • To identify physiological, psychosocial, and environmental factors associated with the occurrence of sundown syndrome.

    Main Methods:

    • Observational study involving 59 demented and 30 non-demented nursing home residents (aged 60+).
    • Data collection included daily morning and evening observations using a Confusion Inventory, physiological, psychosocial, and environmental assessments.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Standardized cognitive and mood scales (Pfeiffer's Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale) and sensory screening were also administered.

    • Main Results:

    • A prevalence rate of sundown syndrome was found to be approximately 12.4% (11 out of 89 subjects).
    • Sundowners exhibited increased restless and verbal behavior as evening approached.
    • Sundowners were more likely to have dementia, greater mental impairment, and organic involvement.
    • Significant associated factors included urine odor, frequent awakenings during the evening shift, fewer medical diagnoses, recent admission (<1 month), and higher evening confusion levels.

    Conclusions:

    • Sundown syndrome is prevalent in nursing home settings and is associated with dementia and cognitive impairment.
    • Specific physiological factors (urine odor, sleep disturbances) and psychosocial factors (recent admission, confusion) are linked to sundown syndrome.
    • Environmental factors did not show a significant association with sundown syndrome in this study.