Warning: Lack of Sleep a Danger for the Alzheimer’s Caregivers
As I read Liz’s recent post, Sleep Disturbances in Alzheimer’s Patients & Their Caregivers, I recalled the lack of sleep when I cared for Mother. An uninterrupted night’s sleep was something I received little of. Mother lost track of day or night, cat napped during the day, so was awake or only napping at night. Her sleep patterns (or non-patterns), always erratic before Ahzheimer’s, became more so after she developed this disease.
“Mary, one of the most difficult things about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is you never get a good night’s sleep,” a friend said, when she learned I was moving Mother to my home from hers in another state. Audrey had taken care of her father and found the sleeplessness most difficult.
So, be aware, if you find yourself an Alzheimer’s caregiver, sleeplessness may be in the cards for you. Lack of sleep can be a danger to your well being, especially if you have any health conditions that are intensified by tiredness.
Find ways to get a good night’s sleep by:
* Alternating caretaking with others
*Getting naps during the day
*Keeping the patient active during the day so (hopefully) he/she sleeps at night
*Checking with other caregivers and professionals for tips on getting adequate sleep and getting your patient to sleep for longer periods.
Fortunately my health was good, so sleeplessness didn’t bother me on that account. I learned to sleep lightly, as I had when my daughter was small. I learned to awake when I heard the slightest unusual noise and find that Mother and her cat were enjoying some nightly adveture.
How have you managed to get more sleep as an Alzheimer’s caregiver?
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Tags: Alzheimer's caregiver, Alzheimers, alzheimers-caregiving, Alzheimers-disease, caregiver, caregiver health, Caregiving, danger, health, lack of sleep, sleep disorder, sleeplessness, warning, women's healthRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Alzheimer's/Care, Alzheimer's/Caregivers, Alzheimer's/Personal Caregiving Experiences, Alzheimers+health
1 opinion for Warning: Lack of Sleep a Danger for the Alzheimer’s Caregivers
Cathy
May 11, 2008 at 2:48 am
Mary Emma, this was a big one for me, before Mother died. I will tell you I was also fighting invasive cancer at this time so I am sure my immune system was messed up from all that, which only made the sleeplessness seem worse.
She developed such a habit of getting up and getting dressed many times, (6-7 times) in the middle of the night. I woudl just get her back in her nightgown and back in bed and 10-15 minutes later she would be up and completely dressed again. Also, I stopped going to bed at all and only slept sporadically, and fragmented, in a chair by the front door, because I was always afraid she would walk out of it.
I think the sleeplessness is probably the worst part of being a caregiver.
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