Reminisce - Dementia resources and support in Cornwall

13/12/2025

Our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses have put together suggestions for appropriate Christmas gifts for people with dementia

12/12/2025

Christmas is a time for family, here are some tips to help keep the festive season as smooth as possible if a family member is struggling.

11/12/2025

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/fiddle-toy-elf-knitting-pattern

Knitted fiddle toys can be helpful for people with dementia with restless hands. Knit our festive Snuggle Elf to give as a seasonal toy.

11/12/2025

Not sure what to buy for somebody who is living with dementia? Read our guide to the best Christmas gifts and stocking fillers in our online shop.

10/12/2025

It’s okay not to be okay.

If you need help with your own or someone else's mental health, call the free 24/7 mental health line on 111 and select option 2 for help and support or visit www.111.nhs.uk.

You can also find a list of mental health resources and support on our website 👇
https://cios.icb.nhs.uk/help-us/your-mental-health/

09/12/2025

The John Betjeman Centre - Concern Wadebridge

08/12/2025

Some brilliant advice here from the on ways to navigate the aftermath of the Christmas period with Dementia.

Read tips from Clinical Admiral Nurse Vic Lyons on how to navigate the aftermath of Christmas

08/12/2025

Sometimes a person with dementia may become intensely distressed and agitated in the later afternoon or towards the end of the day. This is known as ‘sundowning.’

The symptoms may continue into the night, making it hard for them to get enough sleep, but they aren’t necessarily linked to the sun setting, or limited to the end of the day.

Sundowning can happen at any stage of dementia but is more common during the middle and later stages.

The reasons why sundowning happens are not well understood, but it is possible that a range of different causes makes it more likely. These might include:

Tiredness, hunger, pain or other unmet physical needs

Not enough exposure to sunlight during the day

Overstimulation during the day, such as from a noisy or busy environment

Disturbance to the person’s ‘body clock’ caused by damage to the brain

Disturbed levels of hormones that vary over the course of the day

Sensory impairment, such as hearing or sight loss

Tiredness in other people causing the person with dementia to become upset

Mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression

Fewer carers around to look after the person (in a care home)

Side effects of prescribed drugs

Sometimes what seems like ‘sundowning’ could be the person trying to communicate a need. This could be needing the toilet, feeling hungry or being in pain.

Uneven indoor lighting and reflective surfaces can sometimes cause confusion by creating disturbing shadows or mirrors.

Close the curtains or blinds once it starts to get dark and cover the television with a dust cover, if it’s not being used.

Think whether something that’s happened during the day has affected them.

If they remain agitated, it could be that they have a need that is not being met.

If they seem agitated, try to calm them by distracting them, perhaps talking about a favourite memory.

09/10/2025

06/10/2025