Bedtime to breakfast and beyond

What started as a program to improve the sleep of people with dementia at one Life Care site has led to a fundamental shift in how the South Australian aged care provider implements and embeds person-centred care for all residents with dementia, not just at night but 24 hours a day. Deborah Muldoon explains

Good sleep is vital for well-being, and the need for restorative sleep does not lessen with age. Older people need about the same amount of sleep as younger adults (7.5 to 8 hours each night). However, our sleep patterns change as we age – older people take longer to fall asleep and are more easily awakened. Depending on the individual, they may need to remain in bed for longer to achieve the required amount of hours.

Sleep quality can be affected by many things: noise and light disturbances, napping during the day, inadequate pain management, and evening activity or diet (for example, a meal may cause reflux, indigestion, cramps or nausea, especially if eaten late in the evening). When a person is not getting enough sleep, their enjoyment of daytime activities can decrease.

Our review and trial

In 2012 Life Care developed and trialled the Bedtime to Breakfast program in response to an increase in overnight bell calls from unsettled residents with dementia at its Aldinga Beach Court care home. A review of bell call frequency identified an average of 240 calls overnight in the 24-bed unit. During the day these residents were also exhibiting fatigue, anger, intolerance, lack of appetite and poor participation in regular activities.

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