15/12/2025
Shorter days, early darkness and changes to routine can make winter a more challenging time for people living with dementia - especially when it comes to sundowning.
Sundowning is more than restlessness or confusion later in the day. For many people, it can be linked to a lifelong sense of wanting to go somewhere or expecting familiar faces to come home, patterns that we’ve followed our whole lives. When these rhythms don’t unfold as expected, evenings can feel unsettling.
Our latest blog explains:
🔸 What sundowning is - and the emotional reasons behind it
🔸 Why symptoms can feel stronger in winter
🔸 How gentle routines, warm lighting and familiar spaces can bring comfort
🔸 Practical ways families can create a calming evening environment
🔸 How our dementia care teams support residents with empathy, insight and evidence-based approaches
If you support a family member living with dementia - or want to understand more about how care homes create a calming, gentle environment - then this guide may be helpful for you. 🧡
Read the full blog here 👉 https://www.hc-one.co.uk/our-news/blogs-and-articles/sundowning-and-dementia-in-winter
