QuestionMargot, my wife 72, was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsey (PSP) about two years ago. At this time she is still lucid, has some short term memory problems, has poor balance and subject to falls. One of the effects of PSP is incontinence. She needs very frequent trips to the bathroom, which require my assistance. The thing I am having difficulty coping with is sleep, or lack of it. For about a year I haven't been able to get more than three hours of uninterrupted sleep at a time. I'm really getting tired and short tempered. Question is I guess, have you any suggestions short of hiring a nurse?
Al
AnswerHi Al,
I'm sorry to hear about the challenge you and your wife currently face.
My suggestions would be:
-ask your GP if there is any medication that can safely help decrease your sife's urinary frquency and possibly one to promote her sleep as well (without affecting balance of course)
-you might want to look into Adult Day Care so you could have brief respites on a regualr basis - a lot of people enroll their spouses in ADC 2-3 times a week so they can have time to get their own errands done and have rest days
-you can also look into Short-Stay Respites at local Long Term Care facilities if you want to have a weekend to yourself to sleep once a month or so - I know husbands who do that once every 10-12 weeks and find that to be just enough to allow them to recharge their batteries
-you could try getting a commode and putting it right beside the bed with a floor to ceiling pole and/or hand rails so your wife wouldn 't have to walk to the WC at night and may help promote both your sleeps
-of course there are wonderful incontinent products available, but I don't believe in putting anyone in a "diaper" before they are ready for it, but if she is having accidents you might find a pad would help you both sleep more soundly
Hope some of this helps.
I wish you both good health,
Margot
