Not sleeping at night

BookBuffBex

Mom is entering a new phase where she stays up all night “reading” (browsing on her phone or iPad). The past few years she has always napped a lot during the day; dozing off while reading the paper or watching TV but it never affected her nighttime sleep.

She & my dad are in AL and this is really disturbing him both emotionally and physically. She won’t turn the bedroom lights off so he isn’t getting the rest he need. Or he sends her to the living room but she wanders back into the bedroom and turns the lights on. This is all brand new behavior. I’ve got a call in to her Dr. Is sleep disregulation just another part of this disease? TIA

SDianeL

Unfortunately yes. Dementia can disrupt the body's normal cycle of day and night and their body clock. This means that many people with dementia feel tired and sleepy during the day. They may take many naps that then make it harder for them to sleep properly at night. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/for-sleep-changes

Quilting brings calm

Yes. Ask the doctor for trazodone or Remeron to help her sleep

Marta

Remeron now has a black box warning for use in PWD. Trazodone doesn’t.

BookBuffBex

I spoke with her PCP last night and he does not want to prescribe anything yet. Apparently those sleep aid drugs are more dangerous for PWD - leading to confusion and increased risk of falls. We're going to try melatonin for now. I'm still waiting to hear back from the Geriatric Mental Health doctor who follows her at AL.

My poor dad is really struggling with all these changes on top of his own health issues.

Thanks everyone.

Olly_Bake

I've been trying to get this out to you all day but kept having to stop and go attend to dad.

See if you can find anything helpful for your parents.

My/Dad Story About Sleep

I am a believer that Dementia disrupts the body’s normal cycle. With my dad, I can keep him up all day (no naps). Other days, I try the brief off and on naps. This was just a waste on my nerves and dads.

So then myself, dad's primary doctor, and home health nurse came up with a regimen that works most days. It goes 25 mg quetiapine, 1 magnesium oxide (250 mg) , 1 magnesium glycinate (120 mg), and 1 valerian root (2400 mg) around 5 in the evening. Then if he wakes up during the night and can't fall back to sleep, sister can give one 5mg melatonin. {not a recommendation - just letting you take a look inside}

Then I also ask sister and aide to cut out sugary stuff after 5 and start half cupping the water. When I get told he didn't sleep that night, all I have to do is view the footage and I can see that the care plan was not followed.

Hope this helps.

Keep us updated!

PS: His primary was also against prescribing sleep aides until dad got where he needs help to get up due to all things you mentioned. Seroquel is really off label for sleep but his primary felt it was the safest.

BookBuffBex

“When I get told he didn't sleep that night, all I have to do is view the footage and I can see that the care plan was not followed.”

@Olly_Bake Is your dad in AL? Or are you & your sister caring for him at home?

This is brand new behavior for mom and nothing seems to happen quickly.

Olly_Bake

Hi BookBuffBex. Dad is not in AL. He has been at his home now for over a year. Nursing homes were not working out in our area. Just wanted to share how this sleep thing is so crazy. Also learned can't give him a sleep aide and expect it to work in a couple of hours. It takes hours to work through his system hence the reason for administering so early.

Is your mom able to be seen by her doctor? I apologize if I've missed part of your post.