My father does not sleep at night and does not let the caregiver sleep.

My grandma right after rehab because she broke her neck, came home staying awake all night long and sleeping all day with naps. At first we allowed it since, with us taking turns watching her all night, listening to her babble, and play the 4000 repeating questions all day. Then finally I got so tired I asked mom (who was still recovering from her first cancer surgery so she readily agreed) if she would make if I tried a baby sleep training technique. You keep the person up from 3:30 on so they are actually able to switch their nights and days. Now after much patience and trial and error, she is able to sleep at night. Sometimes between 2 and 4 hours then she gets up and goes for a bathroom break and is conditioned to go right back to sleep and will most of the time sleep another 2 hours, then another 2 hours until 7 when she's up for the day.

She naps from 8:30 to 10. Then is up for a bit as she gets a morning snack, a shower, get dressed, and watches a game show until after lunch when she once again takes a nap from 12:30 to 2ish. Then she takes a bathroom break and will sometimes if she's sick or just plain tired sleep until 3:30. Then at 3:30 no matter what happened (even if there's a doctor's appointment I do not change it from no more sleep after 4) she is awake for the day. I keep her busy either talking to her, keeping the window open so the sunlight comes in. She actually is used to it now and rarely tries to go back to sleep after 4:30. By 9 or 9:30 she goes to bed and goes to sleep within an hour or so watching the music channel. I have found she likes television at night and since I use a baby monitor and cannot sleep to television, the all music no words music channel (easy listening) works perfectly to allow me to sleep still hearing her and yet also gives her something to watch and sleep to. She does not sleep without the television on.

Sleep training is totally the way to go. At least it was with us. It's not perfect as she still has a terrible nights but at least most nights I get some sleep.

Go back to the doctors and tell them the meds aren't working, and don't let them just blow you off. This is one of the biggest causes of caregiver burnout, you can't function indefinitely on inadequate sleep. Coming up with the right combination of drugs may be trial and error, and some drugs may take time to build up in his system to be effective so it may be a lengthy process, but it is soooo worth it.

Hi my mum has parkinsons... Nerve pain, depression ... Cries 24/7, hyperactive and has not allowed me to sleep for 6 years literally & i was working full time until recently ... I am burnt out and i have tried everything!
The only thing that works is exhausting them during the day, eg during our renovations mum had to try walk & eag out & stay at hotel until renovations done. I exhausted her so much , even today that shes in bed by nine pm. My friend recommends talking to doctor & grounding sleeping tablets and putting it in his food. And its probably the best idea but is he incontinent !! Cause mum is !! Which is a major problem! Good luck !!!

Open the shades so the sun wakes him early, that resets his clock too.

Melatonin. My mom's neurologist recommended melatonin and it has worked like a charm. She takes 10 mg. Give it at a regular time each night. It's not a sleeping pill, but it helps sets the body's "clock." She now becomes sleepy at a regular time and for the most part sleeps through the night, unless she has to go to the bathroom.

You and your sister must be exhausted. Have you tried keeping your father awake during the day to get his days and nights back on track? I know it would be a challenge, you'd have to keep him awake and engaged but it might help. Whatever he does while he's up all night have him do during the day instead. You can let him have a brief nap during the day but don't let him sleep long. Give it several days to see if you can switch his days and nights back.