Is anyone have trouble keeping an Alzheimer's patient in a sleep clinic?

I'm sorry to say that it's unlikely he'd keep the device on at this stage of his disease. It's entirely possible that he was extremely anxious in his new surroundings and confused about what he was doing there. I know that treating sleep apnea has shown some promise in preventing AD, or maybe in early stages, but to expect someone already having significant symptoms to cooperate with the technology is, in my way of thinking, expecting more than he can handle.

As to your question about the insurance, I suppose it depends on the carrier. If it's Medicare and they don't cover it, be sure to appeal. You can go to their site at www.medicare.gov to find out how.

Good luck,
Carol

I agree that it probably wouldn't help, and he wouldn't use it.

For other people, or even in this case, they now have an "autopap" that they send home with you for three nights. You don't need all those wires attached to your face, or to be in a strange place overnight. It just measures when the breath is and isn't meeting resistance in getting into your lungs. My husband got one to check the output level, to see if it was set high enough.

You still have to wear the mask, but it's much more convenient in most cases.

Thankfully the doctor did not suggest another Sleep Clinic. She just said we "tried". She had no idea whether Medicare would bill me for an uncompleted test. She agreed with me that their was no need for a follow up appt since the test was not conducted.

Thank you, Carol. That is exactly my thinking-- that at this stage to expect him to cooperate by actually sleeping at the clinic or if he gets through the night and they find sleep apanea--to keep the device on is highly unlikely. The doctor that ran the clinic acted like a miracle would happenif it was caused by sleep apanea. I have not scheduled a follow up because there is nothing to follow up. I wonder what the neurologist will have to say when we go for his appt. on Thurs. She is the one who suggested the sleep clinic in the first place. I knew I would have trouble with him so I waited to tell him the morning of and he immediately said-- I want to kill myself. Later in the day, he seemed resigned but he kept saying over and over, what do I need to bring, then he would get a pillow and a hat (like he was going outside). This went on for 4 hrs. Then the tech was supposed to be their a 1/2 hr early (I heard the doctor's ofc confirm this with the techs) and she was not so we sat in the car for 25 min. When she showed up she seemed to have no idea how far along his alzheimer's was or that he even had memory loss. I agree with you and I really don't know if a better sleep clinic would make any difference. Ironically enough the clinic's was name "Best" ..