Caregiver training may help people with dementia keep steady sleep and walks

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   22 people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers took part, in two groups. Patients averaged about 77 years old and were 64% men; caregivers averaged about 65 years.

2. 02

   What they did

   Both groups got written sleep advice and six one-hour sessions at home over two months with a specialist. One group also made a personal sleep plan with a daily walk, limits on naps and a weekly diary review. The other group got general support and no sleep plan.

3. 03

   What happened

   The personal-plan group kept steadier bedtimes (83% of days against 38%) and wake-up times (96% against 59%). They also had no unplanned naps on 70% of days against 28%, and walked daily on 86% of days against 7%. The study counted only patients who needed each change, was small, and did not measure whether sleep improved.

What the study found

1. HelpedRoutines

   Caregivers with a personal sleep plan kept bedtimes and wake-up times steadier.

   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Rule: At the same time every daytested
   • Rule: Have someone help you set it uptested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Very small randomised trial of 22 people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers · vs caregivers who got general support and no plan · behaviour was recorded

2. HelpedGoals

   Patients took no unplanned naps on 70% of days with a personal plan, against 28% in the other group.

   • Action: Set a specific goaltested
   • Rule: Check in once a weektested
   • Rule: Have someone help you set it uptested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Very small randomised trial of 22 people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers · vs caregivers who got general support and no plan · behaviour was recorded

3. HelpedGoals

   Patients walked daily on 86% of days with a personal plan, against 7% in the other group.

   • Rule: Every daytested
   • Rule: Check in once a weektested
   • Rule: With a coach or therapistused

   Very small randomised trial of 22 people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers · vs caregivers who got general support and no plan · behaviour was recorded

Source