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Tuesday, July 08, 2008 amnau asks

Q: My grandfather keeps on asking for food again n again, how can we keep him calm?

My Grandfather keep on asking for food again and again, even if he have it 5 mins ago. I know this is because of his disease but situation is getting really tense and most of time he become aggresive as well. We are taking care of him full time at home.

 

 he is also not sleeping at nights, Xenox do calm him but its effect waive off quickly. is there a way to keep him calm?

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7/ 9/08 4:11pm

It is understandable that you have concerns for your grandfather. Although asking repetitive questions, showing aggression, and having trouble resting during nighttime hours can be symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, it is important to alert your grandfather's physician to determine whether or not these behaviors are due to other medical issues that might require treatment.  You may also want to consult with a nutritionist or dietician to rule out nutritional concerns. In addition, you can assist your grandfather by doing things that will help him stop some of the things he says or does that are difficult to deal with. If you find that he asks the same question several minutes apart, rather than repeating your answer, you can try talking about another topic, for example, the next meal. Ask him about his favorite foods and steer the conversation away from the topic as a way to distract him. As for keeping him calm during the night, there are several things that you can do to make the evenings more restful. It is a good idea to schedule activities during the day and not near bedtime. It can also be helpful to create a calm, soothing environment during evening hours and keep all the lights on in the house so it appears like daytime, as certain people tend to become restless when the sun goes down. Avoid giving your grandfather coffee and try to limit his naps during the day. If he receives a lot of rest in the daytime, he may not be tired enough to sleep through the night. Also, try to delay his bedtime as late as possible. For example, if you find that your grandfather needs six to seven hours of sleep each night, putting him to bed at 9 pm will most likely lead to him waking up at 3-4 am because he is feeling rested. Adjust sleep time to his personal needs. Always consult with his physician if you have medication questions. If you find that he is not easily manageable in the home, you may want to consider residential placement in the long run. The best way to go about this is having a professional assessment taken. Many homecare agencies can offer this service to you.

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