The patient/caregiver was educated on promoting sleep in Alzheimer’s patients as follows:
- Limiting intake of highly concentrated sugars & caffeinated drinks close to dinner time and participation in moderate physical activity during the day, as tolerated, can help improve sleep patterns in senior citizens.
- Caregivers must encourage the Alzheimer’s patients to limit or avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcohol intake can add more dizziness and confusion to the Alzheimer’s patient, which can steeply increase their risk for falls & accidents.
- Taking small daytime naps can help better management of stress and fatigue in seniors. Caregivers must try their best to encourage the individual for the same.
- Limiting wandering behaviors in Alzheimer’s patients by making the needed home accommodations, offer frequent reinforcements to the patient regarding their safety, practicing distraction techniques/deep breathing & relaxation, and other anxiety control measures, and keeping company with the Alzheimer’s patient during sundowning times for activities such as, mild walk and small household chores, can help promote relaxation & sleep.
