My relative wakes up many times at night. What should I do?
My husband wakes up three or four times a night, sometimes he gets up and starts getting dressed as if it were morning. I haven't slept for weeks. What can I do?
Sleep disturbances are one of the most exhausting symptoms of dementia — both for the carer and the person being cared for. About half of people with dementia have fragmented sleep, and this happens due to real changes in the brain, not out of stubbornness or habit.
Why it happens
Dementia affects the areas of the brain that regulate the sleep-wake cycle. The person may confuse night with day, have less deep sleep, and wake up more easily with any noise, pain, or need to go to the toilet. Lack of exposure to natural light during the day further aggravates this imbalance of the biological clock.
Daytime strategies
- Natural light in the morning: Expose the person to daylight immediately after waking up — it helps to "reset" the biological clock.
- Physical activity: A walk or simple tasks during the day increase healthy tiredness at night.
- Avoid long naps: A 20-30 minute nap after lunch is acceptable; afternoon naps lasting hours disrupt night sleep.
- Reduce caffeine and liquids late in the day: Avoid coffee in the afternoon and reduce liquids from late afternoon to minimise toilet trips.
Night-time strategies
- Fixed bedtime routine: The same steps every night (brushing teeth, putting on pyjamas, listening to calm music) help the brain anticipate sleep.
- Night light: Leave a dim light on in the bedroom and on the way to the bathroom — it reduces disorientation and the risk of falls.
- Cool, dark, and quiet room: Blackout curtains and a mild temperature make a real difference.
"When my husband gets up at night, I no longer try to convince him it's night. I just say 'it's still early, let's rest a bit more' and lie down next to him. It works better than arguing."
When to talk to the doctor
If interrupted sleep persists and is exhausting you, speak to the GP. It's important to rule out treatable causes such as pain, sleep apnoea, urinary infection, or medication side effects. In some cases, temporary pharmacological support may be considered, but this should always be decided and monitored by a doctor — never on your own initiative. It's also worth asking another family member for help to alternate nights, whenever possible.