Why do elderly wake up during the night?

LaurenRN

Jan 13, 2010

I agree with Carol about seeing the doctor. Sometimes elderly people wake up because they have pain, or need to use the bathroom, but often they are confused and no matter what wakes them up, the confusion becomes the problem. When my father began waking up at night we found a baby monitor was a great way to hear him (and thus avoid falls). It helped to quietly go in and greet him pleasantly, and help him to the bathroom. Then, whatever confused thoughts he was having(I need to pack my bag to go on vacation, my friend is here to pick me up, etc) could be addressed. I always told him it was night time, and he needed his rest,but tried hard to be kind about it. They can come up with some doozies at 3AM! My Dad had trouble walking, but amazingly in the middle of the night he would forget all about that and try to go across the room. The monitor helped me keep him safe.

pamela6148

Jan 13, 2010

Isn't that something. One night my mom, after having her stroke, forgot she'd had it and got up to go to the bathroom. She fell of course and had to knock the door against the wall to wake someone up in the house. She'd bumbed her head and was on the floor for a while before my sister went into her room.

The next day I stayed the night and had a long talk with both my mom and my sister but I think that scared my mom so terribly bad that she's never forgotten.

Although sometimes at night when I'm in there she will say she's gonna get up and stand for a while. I just say wait until morning mom when it's a little lighter outside and you can see better. She always says "OK".

Ruth1957

Oct 26, 2010

I am a paid caregiver. The elderly couple I work with have recently gone to 24-hour, in-home care. Nights are IMPOSSIBLE. No matter what time they go to bed (generally 10:00pm) they are up at 11:30, 2:00, 3:30, 5:00... and with a bit of luck they'll stay silent until 7am after that. Here's the kicker; during the day they use the toilet VERY infrequently (neither has dementia, both are ambulatory although with walkers). WHY do they have to poop and pee all night? I am ready to recommend that they have a care-giving service which provides graveyard care in which the caregiver does not expect to sleep. The man is 90, with prostate cancer, and recently suffered a very mild stroke. The woman is 88, has some heart issues, and arthritis.

BonnieO

Oct 26, 2010

My Mom has dementia and her doc prescribed her Ambien and it has been a blessing. She goes to bed at around 7 pm and sleeps until 6 or 7 am..We still have a baby monitor to keep tabs on her. We even purchased one that has a camera, so if we do hear something in the night we can see what she is doing in her room and sometimes we don't have to go downstairs. The monitor with the camera has also been helpful when she and Dad are really going at it. I can kind of stay out of it until I see that things are getting to a point where things are going to start flying. Then I step in and calm things down.

guardianangel

Aug 25, 2011

My mom-in-law has lived with us for 4 years. She naps alot during the day as soon as she wakes up she thinks its another day. She wakes and sometimes will eat breakfast anytime during the night. It's 3am and she is dressed and at some point during the night was sitting with her bag waiting for the senior bus to pick her up. What do i do to keep her safe?