Angela thanks for your input. This is so true with Alzheimer's it is a difficult task for the person with the disease
and the caretaker. Thanks for my faith in God.

Maggie,
I really feel for you. My late father in law was being kept awake 24/7 for nearly two years. At the time he was 94 and didn't tell a soul. Her cat naps during the day were masked with 'she didn't sleep well last night' or we dismissed it as an age thing: she was also 94.

After experiencing how bad it was myself for three days straight when he was rushed into hospital, she refused to eat it drink until he came home and ended up in the same hospital herself.

Long story short. As the disease progresses their circadian system may change which you are experiencing. You cannot do this in your own but I do understand that you want him at home with you. I promised Poples that I would never put her in a home but it was taken out of my hands because he was her main carer. Can I give you some practical advice?

1. If you want to keep him home, make sure you have a Lasting Power of Attorney both finance and Health and Welfare. If he has mental capacity he must sign it. If he doesn't you won't get it. The LPA safeguards both of you in both areas but more specifically when and if he needs treatment. I had to fight to make sure Ma got what treatment she needed because it was too late for the LPA. Poples however signed and it enabled me to talk on his behalf to the Doctors.
2. Your husband wants company during the night when you sleep and can't understand why you're not awake. You won't like what I'm going to say next but, Poples refused to give Ma sleeping tablets prescribed by the hospital when she first fell and the hospital realised she was a sundowner. Taking those tablets would have helped them both. He was afraid - because he was given false advice by someone who should have known better - that he would lose her bowels. This would not happen. If anything she would have been constipated.
3. If tablets aren't given, has the doctor offered help? Social Services? Respite Care? Day care centre? Take them. Your husband needs external stimulation. You need a rest!!

I hope I haven't scared you but if I can help ease the pain of what I experienced, then I'm here to help.

Peace Always xx

Thank you so much for your kind words, Ken is fit and well apart from the Alzheimer's. Today he got up at 4pm after being up all night and wanted to go out. It's Thursday the day he goes with friend to the pub but he won't wait till 7.30pm as arranged so has walked down on his own. Its half a mile, It's dark, cold very windy and wet but he always does as he wants, so I'll go down and make sure he's there, then pick up his friend. This going to the pub is completely out of character and has only started since the Alzheimer's was diagnosed. Our social services and others say let him, you don't want a battle. Just hope the walk helps to tire him and maybe he will sleep tonight. I get a few hours sleep when he's up but in the night, we are both 84 and I feel he's being so unfair expecting me to take him out every day when he's up, don't like driving in the dark. Sorry I have rambled on a bit , feeling sorry for myself, but hope it makes me feel a bit better about dealing with this very cruel illness. Hugs, Sheila

Recently my husband has been missing meals as well, sleeping round the clock, up all night and waking me during the night in separate room. Can't function if I don't get my sleep, we are both 84 yrs old and whilst I still drive don't like driving in the dark but he often wants to go out if he's up by 4 or 5oclock, this was ok in the summer but not now. Hope things go well for you.

My husband has days where he sleeps 16-18hrs a day. Up for several hrs at night. Pray a lot at night hoping he will not hurt himself pacing all around the house.