Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Most people with dementia (PwD) are living with support from an informal caregiver (IC). Sleep issues are common among all types of dementia and increase the burden on the IC. Disturbed nights may lead to earlier nursing home admission. This study explored the experiences and challenges concerning sleep of PwD and IC. METHODS: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was performed. The target groups were PwD, IC, and care professionals. The sample comprised 20 informal caregivers, 2 PwD, and 9 professionals. Thematic analysis is used to identify patterns within and across data concerning participants’ lived experiences. RESULTS: In total, 31 participants have participated in 28 interviews. Three themes were identified, namely a) challenges in maintaining time orientation and day/night routines, b) irregularities and concerns of informal caregivers at night, and c) environmental cues which either support or disturb sleep. DISCUSSION: The results give insight into the experiences of PwD and IC at home concerning sleep. This guides the development of non-pharmacological interventions for supporting sleep, e.g., the importance of supporting day structure.