Called my mom this morning on her portal video device. Aide answered, she was in room trying to get my mom to do something. But mom was slumped sideways practically hanging bent in half over the recliner arm. Apparently she spent most of the night awake not sleeping until 5 am. Come to find out Mom often sleeps in the chair at night, the aide said she was happy to see her in bed the other day. Not dressing in her nightgown and getting in bed. She would occassionally try that at my house, but I'd get a night gown out, pull the comforter aside and place it on the bed and ask if she needed help changing, and she would be all no, of course not! And I'd close the door and she would be changed. While she was changing, I'd turn off the lights in the house, and tell her I was going to bed, did she need anything? Usually, she might use the bathroom or get a bottle of water, but went to bed in bed. She would be in bed from between 10 to 11pm to 8 am at least. She might get up once to go to the bathroom or call me because of a dream that she thought was real, but most nights no problem. Some days she would get up early and go to bathroom, and fall back asleep, and I'd be waking her up at 930, because I'd need to give her meds.
She's always been more of a night owl, she's not going to go to bed at 8pm. The aide mentioned that they have a 6 to 2 shift, a 2 to 10pm shift and then they have aides that "watch them" over night. So I don't know if maybe the night people aren't supposed to help with that or not. They have "resident driven care" whatever that means. I'm a little worried about her doing this as her ankles tend to swell, and at least that would be better if she slept up in a bed, not to mention, no one gets restful sleep in a chair.
How can I get them to encourage her to sleep in her bed? Maybe have them iniate a call around 10ish when I tell her to change for bed, and get the night people pull back covers or something? With covid restrictions I cant go in and help.
Many people find the recliner more comfortable than their bed so sleeping in the recliner is not unusual.
The should be asking and encouraging her to put PJ's on and get into bed but they should not force her to do so. (age old choice of pick your battles)
And if she is sleeping in the clothes she wore during the day I do hope they are getting her into fresh clothes. I realize they are not showering (now with COVID they are mostly doing sponge or bed baths) daily but clean clothes should be provided.
She's still adjusting to Memory Care, moved from regular Assisted Living about a month ago. She keeps complaining about people just coming into her room, the extra attention is better in Memory Care I think, but she is irritated by it. I dont know if that why shes not changing because shes worried about people coming in while shes in night clothes, maybe.