Any tips on helping my 88 yo husband sleep at night?

Does his insurance give you two

Respite care?

they will take him to nursing home for 5 days… for YOU to relax and get caught up on stuff?

Maybe you should be on sleep meds as to not hear him!

at this stage….

things happen when you’re not ready.

oh gosh… I thight I was done…. Nope… this next tier hit sooo much sooner than I was prepared for:

drugs::

holdill? For agitation

morphine… that seems to help

Ativan: seems to help

anbien

nature made: time release melatonin

warm milk

lower lights
no internet
non tv

maybe baby bach
BEETHOVEN

low classical music

low lights

lots of stimulation during day

excercise

good luck .. it’s not fun


puzzles., chess,
Valarien root from health food store,

Talk to his doctor about meds for agitation drugs, calming effects..

Ativan, and other meds that may be available..

unfortunately.. my DH is now terminal. Anything to keep him relaxed is welcoming.

he fell two times yesterday when I turned my back…

I hear the bed creak and I know he’s trying to get on the move…. Staying in home in place with familiar is my choice…l

My husband has severe dementia and gets up several times during the night. I bought one of those weighted blankets and when I put him to bed at night, I put this blanket over his regular sheets and blankets. It seems to comfort him like a hug and while it doesn't keep him down all night, it certainly has reduced the amount of times he gets up during the night. Even that helps.

Here there is a cheap non-prescription tablet called Sleepright or Sleepassist, available over the counter in pharmacies. It’s based on anti-histamine (like hayfever stuff), which makes most people drowsy (not everyone). The drawback is that it stops working after a few nights, but that can be enough to break a habit. Your husband might be willing to give it a try, as no is doctor required and it’s very mild. If it works, it might give him an incentive to try something through the doctor.

Because of your husband’s complicated and serious cardiac problems, you should not be seeking advice from this forum for your husband’s sleeplessness. Your husband needs to be seen by a cardiologist who will diagnose and treat his cardiac problems as well as his insomnia. Try your best to convince your husband that he needs to see a cardiologist who is going to give him medications which will help him.

Best wishes.

jokenk: As I am not a medical professional, this is a question for your husband's physician. However, he's already declined medical treatment.

If he's able, have him do some mental/physical "work" during the day. We had my 100-yr old Aunt (with mod/adv dementia) fold large stacks of kitchen towels, played card and board games (her rules), walked her to the mailbox, pedaled a portable foot "bike" while she watched tv, had her read aloud to us from books of her choice, etc. Once we started these activities she went off her Melatonin (which wasn't working) and the Tylenol PM she was being given (also not working well).

Ask your doctor about L Theanine (200 mg before bed) and 400 mg magnesium glycinate at 8:00 pm.

I'd run both by your doctor.

If he's declined any medical treatment, does that mean he won't ask his doctor or cardiologist about meds to help him sleep? We as laymen cannot and should not advise you on such a topic, as it's too dangerous.

This is a question for his doctor. If the wakefulness is causing you to lose sleep then make sure the doctor knows that also, because all too often docs who are reluctant to explore medication aren't taking the needs of the caregiver into account.

2.5 mg. valium before bed