My mother with dementia wants to go to bed right after dinner (5pm). Sometimes she goes to bed before dinner. When she does this she gets up anywhere from 12am to 5am. Since she needs supervision and I'm asleep at those hours I began locking her bedroom door so she can't go to bed until 8pm. She is physically well and can watch tv from her recliner. Now she gets up between 6 and 7 am and I can help her with her morning routine. My husband, who also has dementia but a different kind than Moms, thinks I'm a lousy, mean daughter. I also locked the refrigerator and some cupboards so she can't make a jam and paper towel sandwich. Yes, she used a paper towel as bread and ate some of it before I saw what she was doing. She pulls many things out of the refrigerator and cupboards, opens them and leaves them to spoil. I would appreciate some guidance because every night when she realizes that her door is locked she is not happy and I do feel mean.
On the ZZZQuil - it may be a problem for elderly brains. It's just an antihistamine, but they can cause confusion. Check with your doctor if you want to use it regularly.
As suggested above, maybe leaving some peanut butter and crackers out might help with a snack before bedtime and a drink. Don't feel guilty at all or that you are being mean because you are not. You are being resourceful and and providing the best care you can.
Take care and hope you can have time for yourself as well. It is so important.
The best thing you can do according to the doctor was to ensure plenty of physical activity during the day especially afternoons, a filling dinner and maybe a later nutritious snack before bed, cheese or PB crackers, small turkey on cracker or half sandwich, milk, etc to help keep them satiated thru sleep. Keep them up by going for a walk after dinner, watching lively TV, etc.
It's ok to lock the BR door in my opinion to get her to sleep when you need her to and not disrupting your sleep.
One more thing, you might try giving her ZZZ-Quil before bedtime to help her stay asleep. It's not like a sleeping pill, but very mild OTC that will help her have restful sleep but not be groggy the next morning like Tylenol pm or sleep aid. Consult doctor first.