MIL will get up in the middle of the night and will wander around the house. She has even come into our bedroom without knocking. I know that if I lock the door, she would pound on it until we open the door. She gets up dresses for the day and then usually lay down on the sofa in the living room. This means that when I get up to get my day started, I have to be as quiet as a mouse or the grunting will begin (and I mean grunting). We've bought an alzheimer's clock and told her to look at it to see the time, we've told her to go back to bed ("I am in bed!") and nothing. I know this is disease process but last night was the worst! Hub (oh, it's his mother) had to take 1/2 day as she woke us up 3 times. She was afraid he would oversleep for his job? I told her that I took care of him and that we had an alarm clock for that.
We are at our wit's ends. Any advice? Or is it back to when we had babies and have to deal with the lack of sleep? Thanks in advance.
So I, too, was not only frightened by my wife's wandering episodes, I finally decided that I couldn't safely care for her anymore and started looking for an MC facility.
Your MIL's wandering throughout the house is, in itself, a safety issue, especially when the family is asleep. Her next step could be leaving the house during the late hours. As Daughterof1930 has mentioned, and to which I can attest, those with dementia can be very resourceful, and securing both the doors and the windows can present a significant fire hazard. If needed, this should only be a temporary solution while you look for a care facility.
Wandering can occur for many reasons including just wanting to get out, or being confused where they are. It may occur as the result of a delusion that the person is experiencing. On one occasion, I found my wife a few blocks from home with a pad of paper and pencil. She was making sure all the kids were safely on the bus (she was a teacher).
So your MIL's change in behavior is significant and dangerous. Time to consider an MC facility.
AD disease may be messing with her internal clock - especially since she dresses for the day. It will be like having an infant in the home. You should consider having an in-home aide during the night or look into MC for your mother. While it something you and hubby may not want to consider - MC is staffed 24/7/365 and are trained to handle nocturnal wanderings.
Good luck to all of you and be safe.
Meds can maybe help with the anxiety that keeps her up, but there’s no way to truly stop it or talk her into staying in her room.
The other thing is that it doesn’t seem she’s going into a deep REM sleep. Like her internal clock is messed up. Perhaps speaking to her doctor about her taking a GRAVOL before bedtime. They’re very safe, as even pregnant women can take them. She more than likely just needs a bit of help going into a deep sleep.
Turkey contains tryptophan which can contribute to sleepiness (think of all the people who nap after a Thanksgiving dinner!). A bit of turkey at night might help allay the overnight activity.
1 - Talk to her doctor about a sleep medication since has problems staying asleep at night. Make sure she doesn't get more than 30 minute naps during the day. This one might work.
2 - Professional help. Hire a sitter to stay in your mother's room with her throughout the "sleep hours" and to redirect her to bed as often as needed. The only fool-proof version of "professional help" is admit that your MIL has reached the point where she needs 24/7 care in a memory care unit. Find her placement so the rest of the family can get a good night's sleep.
Lock her bedroom door at night and ignore her pounding on it and hope she quiets down.
Give her sleeping medication at night that will keep her from getting up.
Placement in an AL, memory care, or nursing home.
I’m sorry you are having this problem,