Every evening around 5 PM, a resident with dementia becomes restless, tries to pack a suitcase, and yells at staff. By morning the behavior has settled. This pattern is MOST consistent with:
Answer choices
- ASundowning related to dementia
- BA new urinary tract infection only
- CIntentional behavior to get staff attention
- DMissed lunch as the sole cause of the behavior
About this question
What pattern best fits a dementia resident who becomes restless, packs a suitcase, and yells every evening around 5 PM, then settles by morning? Sundowning is a high-intent Psychosocial Care search term and a frequent dementia-behavior stem. Timing is the clue. Read the wording and clinical context closely; those details determine the NNAAP competency being tested.
This item asks for the most consistent label. The pattern is sundowning related to dementia: increased confusion or agitation in late afternoon and evening. Do not invent a new diagnosis from one evening alone, and do not treat consistent dusk escalation as ordinary boredom without reporting the pattern. Note the time cluster and report changes to the nurse. For sundowning dementia evening agitation, use "worse late day, better morning" as the recognition cue.
Reveal answer & explanationShow
Correct answer
- ASundowning related to dementiaCorrect
- BA new urinary tract infection only
- CIntentional behavior to get staff attention
- DMissed lunch as the sole cause of the behavior
Basic rationale
Sundowning is increased confusion, agitation, or restlessness in the late afternoon and evening in some residents with dementia. Consistent timing helps identify the pattern.
Option explanations
- A: Correct. Late-day agitation with evening pattern fits sundowning.
- B: Incorrect. Daily predictable timing points more to sundowning.
- C: Incorrect. Dementia-related patterns are not purposeful manipulation.
- D: Incorrect. Evening restlessness with packing suggests sundowning, not hunger alone.
Deep Analysis
Core logic
Sundowning repeats near dusk with agitation or exit-seeking and often improves later or by morning. Recognizing the pattern guides calming routines and safety measures.
Distractor analysis
B: Delirium from infection usually fluctuates with illness signs, not a predictable daily dusk pattern alone. C: Manipulative behavior is unlikely when the same time-linked confusion occurs daily. D: Hunger alone would not typically cause packing and yelling only at the same evening hour.
Exam trap
Evening-only dementia agitation with morning improvement is a classic sundowning clue.
Memory tip
Dusk agitation plus morning calm in dementia: think sundowning.
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