Any suggestions on getting loved one with dementia to sleep through the night?

After trying all the obvious things: not too much liquid after bedtime, meds. if the Dr. approves them, quiet surroundings, all of which will help a little, you may need to consider hiring a home helper for the nights. They would stay awake and either coax your Mom back to sleep whenever she starts to get out of bed or keep your Mom company and keep her safe if she insists on being awake. This will allow you to sleep at night in order to be fresh to care for her during the day. The home aide that we had came at10:30 pm and stayed til 6:30am,allowing me time to shower and get ready to take over in the morning. She even helped my Mom shower and dress before she left since my Mom insisted on being awake. Its surprising how fast your body will learn to sleep once you know there is someone else keeping an eye on her. Prayers.

She needs to have an area where she can safely be awake while you sleep. This is a lot harder than it sounds in a typical residential setting.

Realize this is a signal type of behavior and it will not go away. Sleep meds can help, but this behavior is telling you that other changes are coming that you need to plan ahead for.

E.g. increased wandering, restlessness, etc.

Hello: I feel your dilemma because we lived it for the first year my mother moved in with my husband and me. One of her medications is a little pill she takes at night to "help her relax" so she can fall asleep but, she still kept getting up to go to the bathroom several times a night. She wears the super absorbent under ware plus a super absorbent night pad. When I told her doctor about this, (oh and by the way, she fell several times during the night the first year she was here) she suggested getting a belt to tie her at night, I was surprised she said that but she told me that this is what they use at nursing homes to keep certain patients from wondering the halls. This is NOT something you can just buy at the pharmacy or on line, my mother's doctor had to order it as a prescription and only through her, I could buy it. So ask your mother's doctor if she can do that for you. You didn't mentioned how old is your mother, (mine is 91 and has dementia) and believe me, the first night I tied her up, she complained but I told her the doctor prescribed this for therapy for her back and she accepted it. I also give her one over the counter sleep aid and it's been working great. I get her untied at around 5am. when I get up to see my husband off to work, to change her under ware and she settles down back to sleep. For the first weeks, she looked like she had been trying to get up but, since she couldn't, she fell back asleep. I'm 63 and the primary caregiver for her and, I'm stressed out as it is, so I NEED MY SLEEP, and so does my husband. Talk to her doctor and explain your dilemma, this could be the solution to your sleepless nights. And don't feel bad about asking her doctor, you wont sound like a monster or an uncaring person, believe me, you are not being cruel or anything like that so I urge you to ask, ask, ask her doctor. I really hope you will.

Oh, I forgot to tell you that it would be a great idea to buy those pads for your mother's bed, to prevent her from wetting the bed. I put one directly on top of the mattress, then the bed sheet and then, another very absorbent pad under her for the night, I hope your mother uses the adult, super absorbent under ware too. She has been here for almost 3 years but the past 2 years, we at least can have UNINTERRUPTED SLEEP!!!!!
I hope this suggestions help.

Okay, this takes some pre-planning during the day. Have her active most of the day, and do not give any caffeinated drinks after 4 p.m. Then about 8 p.m. give her a melatonin 3 mg. supplement and see what happens. Melatonin levels decrease as one ages, so you have to supplement it. It is not a "drug" but will put her in a sleepy state where she will not be getting up in the middle of the night (except to go to the bathroom). If she doesn't wander (I mean outside) you take one too so you can sleep. No use you not getting any sleep while you are the caregiver, if she will be safe without you watching her. If she can tolerate milk, it is loaded with tryptophan which will cause sleepiness. Don't think you can use a blood test to test for sleep-wake cycles. Drugs will only make her constipated, and then you really will have problems.

I started sleeping with my mom. She loves it. I cuddle up with her and say prayers every night and then I sing until she falls asleep. She sleeps through each night. If I do not sleep with her then she does get up and do whatever she does however when I am there she awakes, feel assurance that she is safe, and falls back asleep. We all are sleeping well, and straight through, each night. Oh, and I have our two small dogs sleeping with us too. My mom loves that.

We are in year six. So far, so good. I am her only caregiver. I left my employment to stay home with her. My mom and I have always been very close.

I also got Spring Valley fast-dissolve Melatonin 3mg (sleep support it says on front) for my Mom.(walmart) Her Neurologist had her on 3mg years ago and it didnt work but this one is working for some reason. They can cause bad dreams so I wouldnt give more than 3mg . my moms been luckilly doing well on it. Oh I went through a year of Mom wandering years ago. I cut her door in half (horizontally like Mr Ed's door) and locked it on the outside . I could only put a few things in the drawers and closet to play with or she would take everything out all night long. She would rest her arms on the door yelling Hi? Helloooo? and I would just say "mom its the middle of the night, go back to bed ok" and she said "oh really? okay" and went back for 5-10 mins and got up again. I swear I didnt sleep for a year and had to get to work at 7am. I had a morning caregiver in to bring her to daycare at that time. Soon Mom had a stroke (cerebrel) and started to get agressive. The dr then put her on the depakote. It caused her to sleep a lot for about 3-4 weeks, then it worked like a charm! Eventually I weaned her off it and we are about to start year 8 here, holy moly I some days wonder if she will outlive me. lol. God I love her, I also snuggle with her and sing and rub her head at night. I tell her I will be here alllll night long and she always smiles. I remember when she could speak, she told me that made her feel so good. Who doesnt love to be hugged! As soon as she is asleep I sneak out .I've been getting her to sleep now about 6-6:30pm so I can have husband time too, enough already, we need time too.Breakfast is 9 and dinner 3-5pm, then into bed. Man, can you tell I have no one to talk too, I will shut up now. Give the melatonin a shot, hope it helps!

Don't know if anyone already said this but my mom takes a melatonin every night (3mg). Sometimes two if she can't sleep. It is very safe and should not affect any other medication (ask you doctor just to be sure). It really helps her relax to get to sleep and sleep through the night most nights. Also, many of the meds for dementia interfer with sleep and cause bad dreams. You might want to ask your doctor is you can try giving them in the morning instead of at night or a lesser dose twice a day instead of all at once before bedtime.

atoenc, thats super sad. I dont know if your mom puts things in her mouth or not, but I used bells on my Moms bed when we went thru that stage. Mom would kick her legs a bit due to being uncomfortable (wet), and I heard the bells. I hung them on her bed rails, had them on her socks, sneakers and hanging from the ceiling as she walked at that time. I buy tranquility booster pads and put in her diaper (amazon) and they are amazing!
ON the melatonin, I do remember moms neuro saying never more than 6mg for the elderly, 3 seems to work fine, knock on wood.

Hi again, Trying to cope, I usually don't post in response to other posts but I did feel compelled to remind us all to check with our doctors before adding any hormones, supplements or over the counter meds. to our family members regimine. There have been some real concerns raised with the use of Melatonin for the purpose of sleeping , so I would just check first. Hang in there.