I posted previously here about MIL and her issues related to dementia.

The posters here were most helpful.

She recently fractured her shoulder and not much could be done for the
injury, but home exercises after the swelling went down.

Her mental capacity had dropped like a rock and the disruptive behavior has
dramatically increased, particularly the sundowning and the "yoo-hoo's" we
get at 1 & 2 AM.

My two neighbors have a bed-ridden mother, (Alzheimer's related) who they
have been caring for for as long as we have, 5 years or so. I mentioned the
sundowning to them and they said that their doctor gave them a mild sleeping
pill to help get everybody thru the nite.

When we took her to the doc and asked about some medication, the dr was of
the opinion it would be more dangerous then helpful and more for our
convenience then hers. MIL is ambulatory and does cross the hall from her
bedroom to the bathroom sometimes a couple of times a nite. This is when the
"yoo-hoo's" come because that's supposed to be our wake-up call. When the dr
mentioned the convenience thing, I just wanted to scream, you bet your a--it
is. I am a light sleeper as it is, and getting interrupted for the few hours
I do grab is not helpful. Anyhow, does anyone here have any experience with
the use of a mild sleeping pill to control the sundowning. I have tried to
keep her from napping for long periods and walking around more to get
exercise, but these tactics don't seem to have done much good but tick her
off. Going to be for the night at 630, doesn't help either, but we get the
agitation thing when we discourage such behavior...any thoughts?

Apps to a dementia center are in and MIL has been assessed by public health
to confirm her condition; we are just waiting for a bed that I hope becomes
available soon. TIA

D.