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Within the past month, my mom has not been sleeping through the night and so she gets up like 12 am- 2 am claiming she's hungry. She goes downstairs and starts cooking a meal. I've found her evidence in the morning or her sleeping at kitchen table. I have sleep apnea and sleep with a CPAP machine so sometimes I am able to wake up and avert the issue. I'm thinking of placing a gate at the top of the stairs to cause confusion and send her back to bed. I started shutting the oven down by the power source this week. I'm afraid that one day I won't hear her go downstairs and it will be too late. She's been so confused with time lately. Taking her medication is a battle most days. She doesn't want to sleep and I need it. What can I do to keep us both safe?

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I might try a bed alarm so that when she gets out of bed, it alerts an alarm in your room. You can put one on her bed and her door. That way, you'll when she gets up. I'd do it quickly and maybe even sleep in the room with her until you get it set up, because she could just leave the house, misuse an electric appliance or do any number of things that could harm her. Smart to unplug the stove. I might do that with the toaster, microwave, etc as well.

I'd also discuss this with her doctor to try to get some medication to help her sleep through the night. Also, if she's really hungry during the night, I might provide a night time snack, Maybe, that will tide her through the night more. And, check her blood sugar. Diabetes can make you hungrier than normal.
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Oh, I almost forgot about the gate in your question. I don't have any experience with a gate, but, my concern would be that she might hurt herself trying to crawl over it or take it down, so, I wouldn't likely use one for that reason. Plus, if it doesn't work, you may sleep through it. I'd feel she was safer with alert systems.
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I have the same concern as Sunny with a gate at the top of the stairs, I can picture a determined elder climbing over and falling. Gates that are designed to corral small pets and toddlers will not stand up to the strength or weight of an adult.
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Thanks Sunnygirl1 and cwilie. I didnt think about her climbing over it. She was on seroquel for sleeping for a year the doctor took her off, too risky. She is now taking Lexapro and klonopin to try and ease her anxiety so she can sleep, it doesn't seem to be working. She is diabetic, but her numbers are good so I think she thinks she's hungry because she is confused with the time and forget that she had meals. I offer her healthy snacks, but she refuses them. She wants junk food. I will look into the alert system. What is the name of the system? Thanks so much!
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