How to care for my mother with dementia who gets up at night and falls?

I “slept” on the floor on an air mattress next to my mother’s bed for 9 months, only of course what that means is “never slept for nine months and gained 60 pounds”, and my mother fell.a

In a similar situation when dementia overtook my grandmother, a caregiver was paid to remain awake overnight stayed with my grandmother, faithfully remained awake, and my grandmother fell. A family member was once seated NEXT to her on a bench with a hand on Grandma’s thigh, and before s hand could be put around her to steady her, Grandma fell forward on her face.

In my present POA life, my LO is in a very good AL, monitored constantly, and falls. The “fall protocols” in her residence are FAR BETTER than anything I’ve ever seen in any fall prevention setting, INCLUDING 24 hour family supervision, and DO NOT include restraints (illegal) and still, she’s fallen.

Summing up, people fall even with 24/7/365 vigilance. Safety above all is the most important consideration, and at the same time the most difficult (nearly impossible) to ensure.

One more thought. Look into the possibility of a bed alarm. I've heard about them, but do not know too much more. With an alarm, maybe you could get some rest before the alarm goes off instead of staying up all night by her bedside.

Yes, you'd have to take turns sitting at her bedside watching her. Other possible strategies would be to find the right medication to sedate her all night, or use restraints. Both of those admittedly have ethical concerns.

Koalabear, it's almost impossible to suggest any solutions because we don't know the first thing about your mother or her care needs, or who is living with her, or whether she is in her own home or the family members' home, or what equipment you've already tried, or whether this behaviour is new or has been going on for quite a while, or what health issues you have to deal with...

Could you fill in a little more on your profile, perhaps?