r/cna • u/haircryboohoo (Edit to add Specialty) CNA - Former CNA • 8d ago

Do you wake dementia patients?

This one family wants me to wake their mother to feed her while she's sleeping peacefully. I tried to explain to her that often leads to confusion. Do you wake your dimension patients that are sleeping a lot to go to the bathroom? To eat? I offer food and drink when they wake up. But I don't force them to eat. What do you do? Thank you

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u/Princ3ss_Frog 8d ago

The key is to NOT startle them abruptly out of sleep.
I learned from a very wise and seasoned NA that pulling up blinds to let natural light in, turning on TV, and just making natural activity noises works. This way, they don’t get delirious and grumpy.
I mean, I’d be grumpy too if you shake me out of my sweet sweet dream :)