Sleep and dementia

Sleeplessness

Not getting enough sleep is torture, both for the carer and the patient, Indeed, it is used as a torture technique so it’s imperative that you work on making sure that the night time is one of peace and quiet in the house with loads of restful sleep going on!

Exercise is key. It has been mentioned a lot in these blogs, but it is crucial and offers numerous benefits, including tiring the person out which will in turn, hopefully lead to more restful nights. 

Bedtime routine - it’s important to make sure there is a well known routine to bedtime. Screen time should be stopped at least an hour before bed. Choose the comfort that the patient needs to aid relaxation and sleep - is it a hot milky drink (avoid caffeine) or maybe a warm bath. Spending time putting daytime clothes and belongings away also helps remind the patient that bed time is upon them and it will also help to avoid those nocturnal adventures.

Make sure the room is cool, but the bed is warm and try and reduce light to a minimum in the bedroom. A blackout blind is often a useful purchase, the darker the room is, the better. 

Toilet routine - One of the main reasons people get up in the night is to go to the toilet. In an ideal situation, the toilet will be visible from the bed so that the patient knows exactly where they need to go when they woke up. If not, then make sure the bedroom is clearly signposted in the house, using a different colour door and toilet seat helps. 

It’s likely that the patient will be old, and with old age, often comes joint pain or some other pain in the body. If this is the case, taking a painkiller before bedtime will help. 

Sedation - if all else fails, speak to the doctor about a sedative. You will need to be watchful as the patient may be dozy the following day and more prone to falls etc, but if the right level of sedative can be given in terms of strength, then this may help.

Getting too much sleep

On the flip side, if a dementia patient is getting too much sleep, this can also adversely affect their mood or lead to heightened anxiety. It is important that a dementia patient is kept to a good sleeping pattern to support melatonin levels within their body. If the patient is sleeping too much, they may not be getting enough natural daylight, which in turn can increase levels of anxiety and lead to episodes of sundowning, when the dementia patient becomes significantly agitated. This usually happens at dusk, hence the term sundowning.

As we have covered above, exercise is one of the good ways to promote a healthy lifestyle for the dementia patient and to support good sleeping patterns, combatting getting too much or not enough.

Why not try our free care finding service, if you are looking for extra support for your loved one at bedtimes or during the day.