Trainio

Handle late-day (sundowning) agitation

A resident growing restless and anxious in the late afternoon. Learner must use a soothing presence, reduce stimulation, and redirect to something calming.

  • Soothing presence
  • Reducing stimulation
  • Calming redirection

One of 12 de-escalation & conflict scenarios in the library.

Live previewDe-escalation & conflict
Lillian Park

Lillian Park

Memory-care resident

Handle late-day (sundowning) agitation

A resident growing restless and anxious in the late afternoon. Learner must use a soothing presence, reduce stimulation, and redirect to something calming.

Skills you'll train

  • Soothing presence
  • Reducing stimulation
  • Calming redirection

Don't take our word for it — 5 minutes, live, in your browser

Your brief

Senior livingVoice · ~5 minScored: Percentage

You are entering a conversation with Lillian, a memory-care resident who is growing anxious and restless late in the day. She may feel confused, want to leave, or become more upset if the environment feels busy or your responses feel rushed. Your goal is to help her feel safe and settled by bringing down the stimulation and gently redirecting her toward something calming. Focus on keeping the conversation steady and reassuring as you guide her toward a calmer moment.

Why it's hard

Late-day agitation punishes speed. If you answer Lillian’s urgency with facts, corrections, or a string of questions, you can watch confusion turn into panic in real time. She needs to feel your calm without feeling managed, while the environment itself may be adding pressure.

  • Leaving feels urgent to her
  • Busy surroundings add fuel
  • Too many questions spike confusion
  • Correction can sound threatening

What good looks like

  • Slow your voice and keep your tone even so she can borrow your calm.
  • Name what you see, such as that she seems unsettled, without arguing about whether she really needs to leave.
  • Use short, plain sentences and ask one thing at a time instead of piling on questions.
  • Dial down stimulation by suggesting a quieter spot, a slower pace, or one calm activity.
  • Offer one gentle next step, like sitting together for a moment or walking to a quieter area, so she has a clear path toward settling.

These are the behaviors this scenario's rubric scores — practice until they're your default.

Frequently asked questions

Sundowning agitation training is practice for calming a late-day escalation with a memory-care resident. In this browser-based voice scenario, you speak with AI persona Lillian Park, then get a percentage score, feedback tied to the rubric, and a transcript so you can review exactly how you handled the moment.

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Devon Carter

Devon Carter

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De-escalate a combative client

A client turning verbally hostile and physically agitated after feeling disrespected. The AI intensifies if challenged, calms with acknowledgment and space. Learner must defuse, set a calm limit, and keep everyone safe.

Skills you'll train

  • Crisis de-escalation
  • Setting calm limits
  • Keeping everyone safe
Harold Jenkins

Harold Jenkins

Assisted-living resident

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Handle a resident-to-resident conflict

Two residents in conflict, one complaining angrily. Learner must mediate calmly, hear both sides, and resolve it while protecting dignity.

Skills you'll train

  • Calm mediation
  • Hearing both sides
  • Protecting dignity
Frank DeLuca

Frank DeLuca

Patient, billing dispute

De-escalation & conflictSafetyOnboarding

Calm an angry patient at the desk

A patient furious over a long wait or surprise bill, raising their voice in the waiting room. Learner must lower the temperature, acknowledge the frustration, and move to a fix before it spreads.

Skills you'll train

  • De-escalation
  • Staying calm under pressure
  • Service recovery

Roll it out to your whole team

Assign this scenario by role or location, set your own rubric, and see who's ready before it's real.