Is there a safe legal way to sedate a person with dementia without adding another prescription? Dad is a 76 vascular dementia in the wandering stage. Always needs to go somewhere and it’s getting unsafe. Sleeps a few hours at night and an hour or 2 each day. He’s a recovered alcoholic so booze won’t help. Just want him to sleep 8 hrs at night and a good nap during the day could help too.
One popular prescription drug is trazadone. Clinicians prescribe trazadone as an off label sleep aide. Of course, melatonin or other sleep supplement may work. Whatever you may use, always be aware of medication interactions which could negatively affect your father's behavior. Cognitive behavioral therapy is often prescribed, but with your father's VaD, it's probably not appropriate. Consult with his doctor regarding possible solutions. Depending at your dad's stage of VaD, offering OTC sleep aides may be reasonable. You might want to contact a sleep center and ask for their suggestions.
What I am just as concerned with is his wandering. Wandering can present many safety concerns, especially if he should leave the house at night without your knowledge. Mention this to his doctor also. Wandering, along with the unrelenting progress of the disease, caused me to start looking at memory care facilities for my wife. You may also be at that point.
I also liked Geaton777's suggestion of getting him in an adult day care center. He could be there for up to 8 hours per day and they would keep him busy and safe.
But know this too, if your dad is now wandering,(and you're wanting him sedated) it may be time to be looking at placing him in a memory care facility. You must do what's in the best interest of your dad and his safety.