How can I stop my Dad (89) from staying up most of the night?

Need more information. How old is your Dad and what are his medical issues, if any? Does he live with you or are you living with him?

One thing that got my eye is your Dad drinking Boost Protein late at night... no wonder he can't sleep. I would find a substitute drink real quick.

Freqflyer, Dad is 89 soon to be 90. He moved in with me and my husband 4 months ago. He had a heart attack 35 years ago, but has been in excellent health since. He's on a blood thinner. Takes a daily vitamin. And he takes a mild sleeping pill which has no affect. I have tried to keep him away from the Boost with no success. Last night he was very hyperactive. However, today, for the first time he's very drowsy. Slept all day. He ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. He is now back in bed. I'm very concerned.

When I can't sleep, I take a shot of Nyquil, even if I don't have a cold.

Any chance of taking away the Boost for two weeks to see if there any change? Just don't buy any, make some excuse why there isn't any in the house. I know it won't be easy. And stop the sleeping pill for the same amount of time since it isn't working. Let the body get back to normal.

After two weeks, check with your Dad's primary physician for other recommendations for sleep, if there still is an issue... sometimes something as simple as an antihistamine would work, like Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton 4 hr, but only if the doctor says it is ok to use. Don't use them on a day after day basis, just to get your Dad started on a regular sleep pattern. Long term high dose usage could up the odds a bit for memory issues.

Thanks freqflyer. Your advice sounds like a good start.

advil or tylenol pm has helped clip my little hyper bird's wings. Some nights nothing works. Your dad sounds like he would get on fab with my mom, she is just like you describe. She eats all night long, sugary things preferably, but the other night she was licking baking powder off her fingers! I put everything up high and just leave down a few individually wrapped packages of crackers/peanut butter/ cheese and of course the staff of life (bananas) Having these snacks down where she can find them keeps her out of the fridge and some of the other boxes in the pantry. She talks all day long, mostly nonsense about things and people that she makes up in her head. I just say "oh really?" and try to concentrate of whatever I am trying to do while she does her level best to make sure I pay attention to her. I'd switch to sugar free icecream (put it in a reg carton if he pitches a fit about sugar free) Other than that, I feel your pain more than you know!!!!

Oh, and I disconnected her phone and she would have no idea about how to use a cell phone. What most people don't realize is that if they have a home phone and have it disconnected, you can still make 911 calls on it. If he has a fit about not having a phone, tell him that as long as he thinks it is ok to call people at 4 am, no phone. Mine has pretty much forgotten about it now.