Our Admiral Nurse was there when nobody else was – Shara’s story
Shara reflects on her journey caring for Anna, her mother, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2016.
Disturbed sleep and difficulties around bedtime are very common in people with dementia. This often means that if you care for someone with dementia, neither of you gets enough sleep.
Reasons why a person with dementia may have sleep issues include:
However, by establishing good habits during the day, at bedtime and during the night, you can help the person with dementia to sleep better.
Spending time in natural daylight is known to improve sleep, but many people with dementia spend most of their time indoors.
If possible, support the person to get outside each day. You could try:
Consider asking friends, family and neighbours to help with taking the person outside – they will often be glad to support you.
If the person has mobility problems that make it hard for them to go out, simply sitting by a window in natural light, or in an open doorway, may help to improve their sleep.
Many people with dementia become sleepy during the day, but too much daytime sleep can affect their ability to settle and stay asleep at night.
If the person with dementia likes to nap during the day:
Think about what the person with dementia eats and drinks throughout the day – there may be a link between their diet and how well they sleep.
Some people with dementia become increasingly confused and anxious in the evening.
For example, they may believe that they need to go home, even if they are already at home, or that they have to collect their children from school, but they are now adults.
They may pace, shout, argue or try to leave the house.
This is known as sundowning.
Having a nightly routine can be reassuring and calming for the person with dementia and help prevent sundowning. You could try:
Being safe, warm and comfortable in bed will help the person with dementia settle and sleep well throughout the night.
Sometimes, medication can aid sleep, but this must only be used under the guidance of a GP or pharmacist.
To speak to a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse about sleep or any other aspect of dementia, please call our free Dementia Helpline on 0800 888 6678 (Monday-Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm, every day except 25th December), email helpline@dementiauk.org or you can pre-book a phone or video call with an Admiral Nurse.
Our virtual clinics give you the chance to discuss any questions or concerns with a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse by phone or video call, at a time that suits you.
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