De-escalating Dementia-Related Behaviors Using Digital Tools in LTC

Post Content:
Today, I used Slack to coordinate a real-time response to a resident experiencing sundown syndrome. I used the SBAR format to communicate with the care team:

S – Situation:
Mr. J. was pacing, yelling, and seemed agitated around 5:30 PM. This behavior is typical for him during sundowning.

B – Background:
Mr. J. has advanced dementia and typically responds well to calming sensory input and familiar music.

A – Assessment:
He appeared disoriented and anxious. No signs of pain or acute illness were observed. He was resisting redirection by PSWs.

R – Recommendation:
I recommended playing his personalized music playlist and dimming lights in his room. I messaged the team via Slack to confirm implementation and monitor the outcome. PSWs were reminded to document intervention timing in POC for timely follow-up.

Reflection:
Using Slack allowed the nurse, PSW, and recreational staff to stay updated in real-time. Mr. J.’s agitation reduced within 15 minutes. Timely SBAR documentation helped us avoid delayed interventions. In the future, I’ll pre-load personalized calming tools for sundown-prone residents.