How to Use Bright Light to Improve Mood and Behavior in Alzheimer's Patients

One of the most important things I learned as an Alzheimer's caregiver was how to use bright light to change my mother's mood and behavior.By Bob DeMarcoAlzheimer's Reading RoomMy mother, Dotty, had a tendency to get in a bad mood around 4:30 PM each day. It was like a form of sundowning. Learn more about that situation by following this link.Twilight Moments in Dementia Patients - Sundowning SyndromeShe might say things like I'm going to bed,or something much worse.What really struck me was the look on her face. It seemed like she wasn't there; or, sometimes like she as very unhappy. I didn't like the look on her face and it continued to bother me.Along with this I noticed thatwhenever I put her in bright light her mood changed; and, she often seemed happier.A Note from Dotty in Heaven, Learn How to Live in the NowOddly, I noticed that Dotty was always trying to sit in dim light (turn out the lights during the day); and, would frequently close the blinds or drapes to lock the light out.Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading - This is a Free Service - Join NowI suppose you could say she either preferred low light, or she just didn't know she was sitting in the dim.Or maybe, she didn't want anyone looking in.Has any of this happened to you?How did I use bright light to improve my mother's behavior and mood?1. Sitting Her Next to a Window in Bright LightWe have a big window in our kitchen. On most days it has a lot of bright light coming in (we live in Florida).I started sitting ...
Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The - Category: Neurology Tags: Alzheimers Dementia alzheimers reading room bright light bright light alzheimers care of dementia patients how to learning Source Type: blogs