Sleep pattern.

[someon]

My mum has been diagnosed with Dementia im looking after her at the moment trying to see if i can keep her out of a care home.
She is at the stage where there is delirium and confusion she shouts out for her mum a-lot and she sometimes thinks I'm someone else she often thinks her home is not her home and she thinks I'm kidnapping her we are having a few episodes what i have noticed is her tiredness which i think contributes to all this and makes it worse but her sleep patten is awful I'm trying to get her in a routine
She gets tired at around 9pm which i put her to bed then she is up at 11.30pm this can vary then she is up wide awake she shouts help and cry's for her mum she hyper ventilates as she is panicking too she also talk a lot of things that don't make sense sometimes shouts gets angry too but not violent she up and down in bed covers on and off this goes on till 2.30am / 3am then she falls asleep till say 6/7am wakes up for a hour feels tired and wants to go asleep again but the carers come in at 8.30 to get her up she is then more or less irritated for most the day and not happy especially when it gets to 3/4pm her sundowner gets worse.

Ive been given a anti depressant from the doctor as i explained about her sleeping but this tablet seems to in my opinon make her groggy and worst i cut it down to a half and a quarter too but then that didn't make a difference i asked for sleeping tablets but doctor said no.
Has anyone else experienced this any tips on how to cope with it has anything medication wise helped ? I was thinking of going down the herbal route but she is on other medication statins blood thinners she has heart / Kidney / high blood pressure

Dementia does mess with sleep, so there's probably not much to be done. Might be worth asking about melatonin, although that can cause nightmares in some people.

Be careful modifying antidepressant doses - they take around a month to stabilise, and can cause problems if you cut down too fast.

Hi,
first of all you are doing such a lovely thing looking after your mum and keeping her in her home for as long as possible.

The Alzheimers association has information and advice on sleep disturbance and sundowning with things to try

https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/sleep-issues-sundowning

However, sleep wake cycle disruption is a big feature for people with Alzheimers type dementia.
Sometimes with the best will in the world you can only deal with it and make sure that you hae plenty of support so you can manage.

You could also ask for help and support from the Admiral nurses funded by dementia uk, they are a wealth of knowledge and support and can organise a break for you as well.
www.dementiauk.org/information-and-support/how-we-can-support-you/what-is-an-admiral-nurse/

My husband has young onset.
his sleep was beginning to be disturbed - and I purchased a grounding sheet
https://www.groundingwell.com/products/grounding-bedsheet?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAqenbI9BHpCB86k_N5ccGMeozHhH3&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6Ou5BhCrARIsAPoTxrCb7WifbioSZz60yjliuM3j5cAlbLKjJVGK-3uhn4Ygsz_XJAggs9gaAngjEALw_wcB

it has been very successful - I didnt tell him, but just put it on the bed.
its made a massive difference to his sleep.

might be worth a try

How are you both doing now @someon?

If your DM has delirium have other causes been ruled out like infection?

@TinyMouseTheatre

She had a water infection but that was treated with antibiotics she did have delirium that has got a bit better her sleep pattern is a little bit better but its hard work to keep her up later and not let her fall asleep during the day i find she is so much better if she has a good night sleep

I'm glad that she's been treated for the water infection. Delirium can be stressful for everyone involved.

If you're trying to keep her out of a home I would ask the GP for a drugs review for your DM and ask again for sleeping pills.

You might want to put this in an email to her surgery and stress that you, like them, want to avoid a Hospital admission but that the current situation is becoming untenable.

I've emailed a couple of different surgeries about different elderly relatives and always had a good response. Email seems particularly effective as you have the chance to clearly express what you need and want and it leave a trace.

Has your DM had a recent Care Needs Review and has the night wakings been mentioned? And gave you had a Carer's Review?