| If you are the caregiver of someone with
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| | incontinence may need to be considered
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| Alzheimer's, you may have noticed a
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| | when giving them a night-time drink.
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| change in their sleeping habits. Is this
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| | It is much more appropriate to keep the
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| normal?
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| | Alzheimer's sufferer awake as long as
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| People often assume that as we get older,
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| | possible during the day (though it is
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| we need less sleep. This is true for many
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| | often tempting to let them sleep for long
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| people, but not for everyone. Even in old
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| | periods, as this gives the caregiver some
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| age everyone has their own sleeping
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| | time to do chores, have a few minutes to
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| pattern which suits them best.
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| | themselves, or even take a nap.
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| The sleep needs of an Alzheimer's disease
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| | Make sure it isn't another problem that
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| sufferer may or may not change, but what
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| | is causing the restless nights. This
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| often happens is that their sleep cycle
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| | could include incontinence, night cramps,
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| becomes reversed. In other words, they
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| | or joint pain. Sometimes simply giving
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| may sleep all day and be wide awake at
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| | the patient two paracetamol just before
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| night.
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| | bedtime can alleviate these problems, so
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| This isn't a problem in itself - though
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| | it's worth checking out.
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| it can be very distressing, and tiring
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| | Keeping the Alzheimer's sufferer gently
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| for their caregivers. Especially if they
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| | active during the day is a good way of
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| become disruptive and noisy by moving
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| | helping them to re-establish a sleeping
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| around in the main living areas acting as
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| | pattern that allows them to settle again
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| though it is daytime.
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| | at night.
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| It's very tempting to use medication to
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| | If this proves to be unworkable, many
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| help the Alzheimer's disease sufferer
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| | people use night sitting services. These
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| sleep at night. Though eventually it may
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| | can be very useful as the Alzheimer's
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| become necessary, sedatives can often
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| | sufferer is able to wander about closely
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| exacerbate their confused mental state,
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| | supervised, and the caregiver is able to
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| which then makes the person more
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| | have a few nights of undisturbed sleep.
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| difficult to care for. It is a vicious
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| | Even if a service like this is only be
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| cycle.
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| | used for one or two nights a week, it
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| A small glass of their favorite alcoholic
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| | allows the caregiver to get some quality
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| beverage is often a good idea, or perhaps
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| | sleep. And a well-slept caregiver is more
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| a warm drink - though urinary
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| | likely to give good care.
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