I’ve brought my mom with moderate Alzheimer’s to live with me. About every two or three nights she has bouts of screaming and talking in her sleep. Do I wake her?

My mom has these at times. I go in... Sometimes just softly saying sh..sh..sh is enough. Other times I give gentle pressure to her shoulder and it will calm her. Sometimes I sing a soft song or turn on a soft light, not the big overhead one. Some nights I sleep on a recliner in her room... It helps if I can her when she first gets a bit restless.
Good  luck... It is scary for both of you. It also breaks my heart that mom is so upset.

Are there any physical action that go with the verbal? Look up REM Sleep disorder. It is a symptom for certain types of dementia.

Another thought is, is her doctor really up to snuff to deal with her issues at this point? Maybe you need a fresh pair of eyes assessing the situation.

Terrifying is the word. For both of you, I should think.

It might be an idea to come up with some kind of time frame for how long you can let this continue. Did the doctor have anything helpful to say about how long this kind of phase typically lasts? Any strategies for alleviating such a distressing symptom if it goes on too long or gets worse?

In the short term your aim of finding the best, gentlest way of bringing her back must be what anyone would ideally want to happen, but you do also have to be realistic about how many broken nights you can cope with, and whether medication might be something to push for harder - especially as it's your mother who's suffering equally with you.

What about a change in night time routine, too? Could you try varying bedtime, bath time, her last meal, maybe a hot drink to help her settle - see if anything like that might make a difference? How is she during the day?

Thank you. Yes, I spoke with her doctor and was told this can happen in later stages. I have tried letting the nightmares run their course but it seemed cruel to just let her scream for help even though she was still asleep. I actually went in to her room to hear what she was saying between screams. Some of her sentences were quite disturbing but she was asleep. I tried waking her before and scared her even more because I was rubbing her arm to “wake her” . I’ve let the episodes run the course when it’s been gibberish but when she’s screaming for police and help, that scares me. I have put on lights vs touching her and called her name out trying to wake her and that seems to be safest way to rouse her from sleep but I am not sure if I should keep doing that. It is a rough thing to deal with but I can’t imagine her being in a facility and allowed to let her nightmares run their course with nobody there to comfort her when her subconscience is terrifying her.

How awful! Sorry you are both suffering with this. Terrible for your mom of course, and to be jolted out of sleep with screaming on a regular basis has to be ghastly for you as well. Have you talked to her doctor? There may be meds that could be adjusted, changed or added. Hoping others will have some ideas and that you both can get some relief from this situation soon!