In This Episode:
Dr. K talks with geriatrician Shachi Tyagi, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburg. Her research focuses on two common issues in older adults, insomnia and having to urinate at night (nocturia). They discuss:
- Why nocturia becomes common as we age
- Common health problems that may be related to nocturia
- The relationship between nocturia and sleep problems
- How nocturia should be assessed and how it can be managed
- “Brief behavioral treatment” and other recommended insomnia treatments that can also improve nocturia
- Why sleep medications should be avoided in aging
- How to reduce the risk of nighttime falls related to nocturia
- Options for addressing nocturia and sleep issues in dementia
- Tips on tracking bladder and sleep symptoms, and how to get help from your health providers
Related episodes:
032 – 5 Top Causes of Sleep Problems in Aging
088 – Interview: Avoiding Inappropriate Prescribing in Aging & What to Know About the Beers Criteria
Related Resources:
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- Studies published by Dr. Tyagi
- American Urological Association: Urology Care Foundation
- National Sleep Foundation
- BHWA
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My dad is 93 year old he suffer with light form ofdementia and he will not sleep during the night. He keep getting up all the time to go to the bathroom up to 50 times a night and keep forgetting that he has already been. He can’t walk by himself so my brother has been looking after him for over a year now. He been taking sleeping pills really strong but not effecr on him. We don’t know what else to do. My brother he is getting ill. Please anyone can advise me something. Thank you
This can be a tough situation. As Dr. Tyagi mentions in the article, normally the ideal would be to evaluate his urinary frequency, to try to determine what’s causing it and to see if it’s possible to help him need to urinate less at night. For instance, we would check to see if he is often retaining urine in his bladder, and only having frequent very small pees. (If this is the case, finding a way to more substantially empty his bladder each time might help.) Sometimes making changes to medications can help with this. There are also other behavioral approaches to try to adjust a person’s urination schedule.
From a practical perspective, some approaches families sometimes use include:
– putting the mattress on the floor, so that the person can’t get up and fall as easily
– encouraging a bedside urinal
– having the person wear an adult diaper at night, and reassuring them it’s ok to use it
I also have more suggestions on sleep and dementia here: How to Manage Sleep Problems in Dementia. good luck!