He spends all of his time in a downstairs family room. He can still get himself to the bathroom and come upstairs during the day to eat or drink something. That is about all he can do. But at night he just calls for something to eat or drink or even to just cover him up with a blanket. He won't stay on a routine. Seems to sleep only a few hours at a time in a 24 hr period , but not through the night. Sometimes sleeps long stretches during the day. Because of his dementia, I do not want to give him any sleep aids. Any suggestions for someone who doesn't sleep at night.
I didn't want to lead with this because it sounds so glib and flippant, but I mean it seriously: he needs to be kept awake during the day, for a start. Have you had a look at day care centres or activity groups for people with dementia in your area?
When it's your husband and you're (quite rightly) treating him like your husband, not like a patient or a child, it's very difficult for you to set rules and establish structured routines; so the answer is to find allies who can.
I'd try that first and see; but it would also be sensible to look ahead and think about where you want to go next with your husband's care. Is or was the aim to care for him yourself at home throughout? Have you researched the options?
Sleep is crucial, especially for someone with dementia. I notice that when mom doesn't get enough, the next day is a disaster.
From 2011 to 2018 I would only get 4 total hours per night. Now, since we dialed in dose and frequency, she sleeps all night.
Canna edible delivered at 2 PM allows willing sleep at 8 PM and awake at 6 AM.
Some nights she awakens to go pee, but right back to sleep. Sometimes she will have a seizure in the night. There is no medication for FTD seizures. I used to have to hold her for an hour.
Canna delivered via her Cpap halts the seizure immediately. The side effects are giggles and sleep.
I take a low dose, helps me sleep better, all natural and not habit forming.
In a well-run facility, and I realise there are nothing like enough of them, the schedule keeps seniors on the move in an enjoyable way from eight in the morning until they're ready for bed. But they also have teams of staff, whereas you have a team of you.
You don't have any day centres or anything like it near you?
I tried melantonin. It seemed to work for a while. It doesn't seem to help anymore.
I use earplugs.