Sleep disorders related to dementia

You could be having trouble getting an elderly person with dementia to sleep if you are their carer. Family members frequently remark that it sometimes seems as though a loved one can go days without sleeping. The result is what scientists refer to as a "36-hour day." Both the elder and the carer may get exhausted.

There are a few frequent difficulties, even though it might be challenging to identify the reason for sleeplessness in a senior with dementia. The doctor of your loved one should be informed of the following.

Factors that dementia in seniors might cause sleep issues

Off-lately a busy schedule

For those suffering from dementia, processing too much information or being in a crowded atmosphere might be challenging. Seniors who have busy afternoon and evening schedules may feel irritated and find it difficult to unwind. This makes it challenging to get to sleep and remain asleep.

Making plans for events and appointments early in the day is a solution. Keep the evening and afternoon more sedate. Play calming music and turn off the television. Give the senior some publications or old pictures to look through. The aim should be to maintain calm and relaxation.

Afterward naps

An adult with dementia could start taking extended afternoon naps if the days and nights are confused. Even though they might feel revived afterward, this will simply make their insomnia worse in the long term.

Encourage the seniors to take their sleep at about noon rather than later in the day if they truly need one. You might urge your elderly loved one to attempt to nap by dozing alongside them.

Additional sleep issues

Inform the senior's physician of the circumstance to ensure that there isn't another issue keeping them from sleeping. Medical conditions can occasionally be the cause of sleep problems. It can be restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea, or narcolepsy.

Instead of having the patient undergo a test in a clinic, the doctor may be able to schedule an at-home sleep study. That puts to rest worries about an adult with memory loss spending the night in an unfamiliar setting.

Lack of a routine

When their days are planned and their routine remains the same, those with memory impairment frequently do better. This is beneficial, according to researchers, because it demands less short-term memory. Short-term memory is often affected early in the course of the disease in people with memory loss.

Additional environmental and lifestyle problems

There are a few additional things to think about if none of the aforementioned advice seems to be helpful:

Is it too hot in their bedroom?

Do they have a comfy bed?

Is your inability to sleep due to a drug or a side effect?

Do they have untreated acute or chronic pain?

Do they overindulge in caffeine, particularly later in the day?

We hope you would think about Heritage Care Home Senior Living if you've decided that your senior loved one would live more comfortably in a memory care facility.