How do I sleep? Husband has Parkinson's just diagnosed but I find him in the back yard at 3 am stargazing he says?

We had an uncle with Parkinson's, he drove his wife nearly crazy waking her up at all hours. What helped was to make sure he wasn't sleeping too much during day and having more srtucture (sounds similiar to advice given to parents of infants who wake too often). But at a certain point of.degradation not even that helped. Auntie did not like locking him in his room ar night, he would bang really hard and refused to use bedside commode (peed on floor/wall instead). He moved to memory care a few months after that. The facility was a locked floor, so he was free to roam about the floor at night, the nurses were awake overnight as part of their job and could escort him back to his room. So I guess you need to consider locking your home and just let him roama, inside, or consider if you can afford an in-home overnight attendant (so you can sleep), or move him to facility which will also be locked and have awake attendants/nurses. So sorry you are having to live this way, and I hope you can afford to get some help, because you need your sleep & sanity.

I was asked about memory and confusion at our last visit to his neurologist. At the time I was stamined to reply. I don't get a lot of verbal feed back since he is also deaf and conversations are seldom and minimal. I find the suggestions helpful The neurologist spends 3 1/2 minutes with us so I just denied the problem. I do have a visit with our internist this month and hope to attack him with some of my concerns. Lucky for the man I am a light sleeper and often up also. So I usually find him when he wonders. Dementia is likely as he has had a stroke during surgery to stop his TIAs. His brain is definitely on download.

I agree with checking for other signs of dementia. Lewy Body starts out with Parkinsons is my understanding. I'm not a medical professional, but from the posts here I have gathered that. You might try taking him to a neurologist if he doesn't already have one for the Parkinsons. If he does, ask his doctor. UTIs are awful and make people behave strangely. It could be that. A visit to the family doctor can rule that out. I don't have a problem with the idea of locking up the house. It keeps both of you safe. My suggestion is a double cylinder dead bolt lock which you have the key for. This is the kind that opens with a key from both inside and outside. If you feel this is too radical, how about putting an alarm on the door so you will know if it is opened.

I don't know from the answers if anybody - including me - understands the question. I've dealt with Parkinson's disease with a Father-In-Law. He didn't act and others I'm aware of didn't act like you are saying. Locking him in the house? That's maybe ....I guess I don't know. Where is your Dr on this? That is more of a dementia issue. If that's the case, and you can't sleep (been there but it was UTI confusion like dementia) then I would talk to your Dr. As I said, your question is ambiguous to me, and I would love to help, but need more info.

You also put chimes on all the doors.agree with high locks.

I agree with these answers. A lock at the top of the door sounds a good idea, you will soon know if it works. Also, talk to your neighbours so they are aware about your husband. Maybe your husband was going for a walk to see his friends, even at 3 a.m.!!! I know it sounds silly, but my fatherinlaw used to do things like that, go for a walk to see war mates. Hope these comments help.

You might talk to the neighbors and let them know what's going on so they don't call the police. If he's only looking your windows and they know the situation that situation should be okay.

I have heard that those white plastic things that one puts over the door knobs [doorknob covers] to keep children from opening the door can be helpful.... as long as you are able to open the door.

Have you tried putting a lock near the top of the door? If one lock won't stop him maybe a second lock will.