Study Finds 94 Percent of Dementia Caregivers in Australia Are Sleep Deprived

A study from Edith Cowan University (ECU) published in BMC Geriatrics found 94 percent of 104 Australians caring for a loved one with dementia are sleep-deprived, reports News-Medical . The potential effects include poor caregiver health that also affects their ability to care for the dementia sufferer. The researchers also learned that 84 percent of participants were having difficulty falling asleep and 72 percent had difficulty staying asleep. Psychological distress also was common among participants, with high levels of moderate to severe depression, anxiety, and stress. ECU's Aisling Smyth said disrupted sleep is a significant factor in predicting stress on caregivers and placing a loved one into long-term care. "Enabling people living with dementia to stay at home, rather than transfer to long-term care, is the optimal outcome for many families, but this can't be at the detriment of the caregiver's own well-being," she explained. "Therefore, to support the person living with dementia to remain at home, preserving sleep and maintaining caregiver health is vital." Smyth is currently developing a program to promote better sleep for dementia caregivers at ECU Psychological Services.