How to deal with a person with dementia who wakes up in the middle of the night

How to deal with a person with dementia who wakes up in the middle of the night?

Let’s look at another example

It is 3:00 in the morning, Jamila wakes up and starts walking around the house.

Her daughter-in-law, Safia, is sleeping. Jamila paces throughout the house and then goes to Safia and wakes her up.

Jamila asks: “Where are we? I want to go home”. Safia is upset, because she has a long day at work tomorrow. Safia says: “mother, you need to go back to

bed, it is 3:00 in the morning.” Jamila says: “I am not sleepy.” Safia yells: “I can’t take this anymore.”

3. Check your understanding

Dealing with waking in the middle of the night (1).

What can Safia do to keep Jamila from wandering at 3:00 in the morning?
Please select all responses that you feel are appropriate

Try to understand what will help Jamila sleep. Some people prefer to keep the room dark with no television or as little noise as possible while others prefer a night light, soft music or a television playing.
This answer is a good one. Each person is different and you may need to try several possible solutions before finding one that works.

Give Jamila a favourite object to relax (e.g. blanket. pillow or stuffed animal).
This response is a good one. It may help Vani feel relaxed and secure.

Schedule an appointment with the doctor to find out if there is a medical reason for her trouble sleeping (e.g. urinary tract infection, pain, medication causing hallucinations).
While it is not necessary to seek medical attention every time that a person living with dementia can’t sleep, seek advice if it worries or upsets you or the person living with dementia.

Develop an activity schedule to keep Jamila awake and busy during the day.
This is a good idea. It may improve sleep at night. >

Encourage physical exercise during the day (e.g. walking, stretching).
This may be helpful to improve sleep at night.

Ask if she has to go to the bathroom or is hungry or thirsty. If she says “yes”, then just assist her to meet these needs.
This is helpful. Such a break might help the person go back to sleep.

Ask for help from a family member, friend or a paid professional.
This might be helpful. Eventually, the lack of sleep can affect any family’s ability to provide care. Someone else can assist by giving the family member a night or a weekend off.

Tell Jamila that you won’t take care of her anymore if you are continuously woken up at night.
This is not a good response. Keep in mind that dementia is a disease and someone with dementia will be dependent on the care that others provide.

Physically take hold of Vani and put her back in bed.
Never do this. Although it may be very difficult to deal with sleeping problems, respect the dignity of someone with dementia. Moreover, they may become agitated or angry. It definitely will not solve the sleeping problems.

In the previous exercise, you identified several ways of dealing with waking in the middle of the night. Now let's look at your own situation and some additional responses.

4. Check your understanding

Dealing with waking in the middle of the night (2).

Which of the responses below would you choose if the person you care for experiences sleeping problems?
Please select all responses that you feel are appropriate.

Remind yourself to stay calm and focus on getting the person living with dementia to sleep. This way, you will use your energy to solve the sleeping problem, rather than reacting emotionally.
Correct!

Gently remind the person that it is dark outside, and it is time to sleep. If needed try to relax the person, for example by playing soothing music.
Great idea!

Read aloud to the person you care for. Choose something that you know has a calming effect, perhaps a poem or story. Sing a song or chant together. Another option is to pray or meditate for 15 minutes together.
Good response!

Comfort the person living with dementia. Give them a stuffed animal and hug or hold them until they fall asleep.
Great idea!

Tip

Sleeping problems may be related to depression. If the person you care for has difficulty sleeping, you might want to read Lesson 4 Depression, anxiety or apathy. Please also seek advice from a doctor.

2.Activity

Let’s look at your own situation
In an earlier Activity on page 211, you identified the main sleeping problem of the person you care for.
It is important to apply what you have learned to your own situation. The space below is for you, like a diary.

What could you do to help tackle the sleeping problems?

What could you do to improve your reaction to sleeping problems?

Lesson 5. Difficulty sleeping

How to deal with a person with dementia who wakes up in the middle of the night

Tip

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