My Dad, was diagnosed with mild dementia in january 2012. Since then it seems there are more bad days, but overall he's still pretty independent. He still lives alone, though I'm there everyday from about 4 in the afternoon and I stay til he falls asleep, and if it's a "bad" night, I stay all night. He's been sundowning, but once he's sleeping he usually sleeps through the night. He doesn't know me as his daughter anymore, but knows that I am karen and that he can call me anytime, which he does.actually sometimes he thinks there is 2 of me. It seems with the shorter days now, it's making the sundowning worse, some days he gets confused etc, as early as 3 in the afternoon, but has not tried to wander. At what point should he not be left alone anymore?
He could leave the stove on and start a fire or be at risk in other ways, as well as wandering.
Take care,
Carol
"Usually sleeps through the night" is not always sleeps through the night. Calling you is excellent, but how can you be sure he'd remember every time it is appropriate? I'm sure you know, dementia gets worse.
You are doing a great job of trying to keep him safe. Unfortunately his periods of being unsafe cannot be guaranteed to be limited to occur after 4 pm.
It is time to bring help into the home, or to look into a memory care unit for him. Better now than after a crisis strikes.