How to deal with sleeping problems in a person with dementia

How to deal with sleeping problems in a person with dementia?

Difficulty sleeping can be a problem for people with dementia and their families. People with dementia can have difficulty falling asleep, may wake up in the middle of the night, or wake up too early in the morning. Carers may have their sleep

Disturbed as a result, which can make it harder to provide care.

In this lesson, you will practice how to promote good sleep for the person living with dementia.

1.Activity

What is the main sleeping problems of the person that you care for? Please select all that apply.

Difficulty falling asleep
Waking up in the middle of the night
Combination of the above
Other (please specify):
No problems at this point

Difficulty falling asleep

Khadijah is an older woman with dementia. She lives with her family. She sleeps near her granddaughter, Haya. Usually, the family has dinner around 6pm. The family is used to doing some activities together afterwards. Khadijah does not always like these activities so the family often wants her to go to bed as early as 8pm. Granddaughter Haya notices that Khadijah has trouble falling asleep. Khadijah continues to open and shut her dresser drawers noisily during the evening. When Haya goes to bed, the noise Khadijah is making keeps Haya awake.

1. Check your understanding

Understanding sleeping difficulties.

Can you break down the cycle of behavior change in this example into its three parts?

What comes before the behavior? What is the stressful behaviour? What does this mean for Haya?

Khadijah is sent to bed as early as 20:00, so that the family can do activities together that Khadijah does not like. Khadijah has trouble falling asleep and continues to open and shut her dresser drawers noisily during the evening. This keeps Haya awake.

2. Check your understanding

Responding to sleeping difficulties.

Here are some examples of what Haya could do.
Please select all that you think may be appropriate to help Khadijah fall asleep:

Go for a walk with Khadijah and add more physical activity during the day.
This is a good idea! Physical exercise during the day may help sleep at night.

Give her a pill to sleep.
This is not a good idea. It can make someone with dementia even more confused or agitated and sleeping pills may become addictive.

Try and ensure that Khadijah does not drink coffee or too much fluid a few hours before going to bed.
This is a good response Coffee, tea, or too much liquid can keep people awake, and cause frequent urination.

Make lunch the bigger meal of the day.
This is helpful A light dinner makes it easier to sleep.

Limit daytime naps to 15 to 30 minutes.
This might be a good idea. It addresses the need for sleep during the day, but it does not prevent Khadijah from falling asleep later on.

Play soothing music before bedtime to help Khadijah sleep.
Good idea. Find relaxing activities before bed such as music, or reading to Khadijah. Too much activity before bed can cause a person to be stimulated and stay awake.

Create a bedtime routine, like lowering the lights, washing face and teeth, and changing into a nightgown.
This is a good response. because a routine will relax the person living with dementia. Select a normal sleeping time as much as possible. Keep in mind that some people may require less sleep. Generally, 6 to 8 hours sleep from 20:00 means night waking between 2:00 to 4:00 in the morning.

Keep in mind that some people may require less sleep. Generally, 6 to 8 hours sleep from 20:00 means night waking between 2:00 to 4:00 in the morning.

So far, we have covered some basic steps to help the person with dementia fall asleep. What if the problems are a bit more complex?

Lesson 5. Difficulty sleeping

How to deal with sleeping problems in a person with dementia

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