What is a good night’s sleep?

[ISAIH]

5.15 am Good morning, has anyone any ideas for helping a husband who is turning day into night and vice versa?
For over a year the number of quiet nights are being overtaken by nights of repeated wakefulness, wandering, lights on, getting dressed. Wanting to go home sometimes. And obviously keeping me awake for hours. Night shift, as well as day shift. I am shattered and have developed painful sciatica And neuralgia. I am sole carer 24/7. I take him to several activities which he loves. A family member gives me a 3 hour break once a week.
My husband has Alzheimer’s dementia, he is physically quite fit but cognition declining every day…and night! We are both late seventies. He is on Memantine and Melatonin.
My empathy goes out to all carers of loved ones with dementia...and it’s victims.

 

[Izzy]

Welcome to the forum @ISAIH.

I'm sorry to hear about yur husband's sleep issues. My husband passed away some years ago now but I do remember what it was like trying to deal with this.

It sounds as if you don't have any outside support from carers for your husband. If that's the case it might be an idea to get a care needs assessment done.

Assessment for care and support in England

What are care assessments and how can people with dementia and their carers access them? This information is for care and support in England.

www.alzheimers.org.uk

It also sounds as if your husband may be sundowning -

Sundowning and dementia

Sometimes a person with dementia will behave in ways that are difficult to understand in the late afternoon or early evening. This is known as 'Sundowning'.

www.alzheimers.org.uk

I'd ask the GP to review your husband's situation.