Creating The Sleep Kit
Eve Baird, Founder of The Sleep Kit
My nightly routine consists of washing my face, brushing my teeth, and reading my book. I am sure that as you read this, you are thinking about what your own bedtime routine is like. Perhaps it consists of simply brushing your teeth and hopping into bed, or maybe it is more elaborate, like my Granddad’s. He used to spend at least an hour in the evening washing his face, combing his hair, shaving and singing very loudly to opera on his radio on full blast.
When a person is living with dementia, bedtime is often a very different story. They may not have the ability to fulfill their nightly bedtime routine in the way that they always did. They also likely have trouble sleeping, which can exacerbate the other physical and cognitive changes that they are dealing with. This creates added stress for both care partners, as it is likely that neither are getting the adequate sleep they need.
During my 4th year at St. Thomas University in Gerontology, I decided to research sleep disturbances among persons living with dementia because it seemed to be something that was overlooked. The current solutions are few and far between. One suggestion is to increase exercise - other studies suggested reducing caffeine intake, exposure to light therapy, and certain types of medications. Of course, medications can be helpful for some, but they are not the solution for everyone. Dementia affects gait, and some medications have the potential to cause dizziness, making walking more difficult and the risk of falling becomes higher. Some doctors are not in agreement about the prescribing of sleep medications for older adults, as they may interact with other prescribed medications. During my research, one particular study was very interesting. Researchers measured the benefits of social interaction to help people with dementia to sleep. They found that if an individual were to engage in any type of social activity throughout the day, their sleep improved. Having had some experience in recreational therapy during my summer student positions at York Care Centre, this really intrigued me.
With this information, I developed a product that I call The Sleep Kit. The Sleep Kit is a small box of alternative sleep therapies for individuals who are living with dementia, focused on the benefits of one-on-one social interaction before bedtime. The Sleep Kit is a tool for both carepartners, and it contains various items that promote preparing for a good night's’ rest. The items are based on the five senses – touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. Each activity is a suggestion, and can be easily modified to create a positive experience for any stage of the dementia journey. The Sleep Kit also contains a custom-made sleep diary, which outlines each item and suggestions on how it can be used, as well as the opportunity to journal the experience.
I currently work as an Activity Coordinator in a long-term care home. When I began spending time there, I mostly worked in the evening time. Some individuals experience what has been labelled as “Sundowning”, which is an increase in agitation in the late afternoon and into the evening. In many instances, even sitting down and spending some time with that person was helpful. Sometimes I would bring them into a quiet room, play music and do an aromatherapy session with them. I believe that human interaction is extremely powerful. But... caregivers are extremely busy, and sometimes it can be difficult to think of new ideas and to find the time to spend quality time together.
During my work at York Care Centre, I heard about a call for applications for a research grant based on support for caregivers. I applied, and was elated to discover that I had received a $50,000 award from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation to test and validate The Sleep Kit. This award was then matched by the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation. I developed a research plan, with the help of my professor Dr. Janet Durkee-Lloyd who encouraged The Sleep Kit idea from the beginning.
We were able to recruit 41 participants and partners who used The Sleep Kit. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and The Sleep Kit intervention decreased the number of restless bouts for the majority of the participants in long-term care.
Eve Baird, Founder of The Sleep Kit
My nightly routine consists of washing my face, brushing my teeth, and reading my book. I am sure that as you read this, you are thinking about what your own bedtime routine is like. Perhaps it consists of simply brushing your teeth and hopping into bed, or maybe it is more elaborate, like my Granddad’s. He used to spend at least an hour in the evening washing his face, combing his hair, shaving and singing very loudly to opera on his radio on full blast.
When a person is living with dementia, bedtime is often a very different story. They may not have the ability to fulfill their nightly bedtime routine in the way that they always did. They also likely have trouble sleeping, which can exacerbate the other physical and cognitive changes that they are dealing with. This creates added stress for both care partners, as it is likely that neither are getting the adequate sleep they need.
During my 4th year at St. Thomas University in Gerontology, I decided to research sleep disturbances among persons living with dementia because it seemed to be something that was overlooked. The current solutions are few and far between. One suggestion is to increase exercise - other studies suggested reducing caffeine intake, exposure to light therapy, and certain types of medications. Of course, medications can be helpful for some, but they are not the solution for everyone. Dementia affects gait, and some medications have the potential to cause dizziness, making walking more difficult and the risk of falling becomes higher. Some doctors are not in agreement about the prescribing of sleep medications for older adults, as they may interact with other prescribed medications. During my research, one particular study was very interesting. Researchers measured the benefits of social interaction to help people with dementia to sleep. They found that if an individual were to engage in any type of social activity throughout the day, their sleep improved. Having had some experience in recreational therapy during my summer student positions at York Care Centre, this really intrigued me.
With this information, I developed a product that I call The Sleep Kit. The Sleep Kit is a small box of alternative sleep therapies for individuals who are living with dementia, focused on the benefits of one-on-one social interaction before bedtime. The Sleep Kit is a tool for both carepartners, and it contains various items that promote preparing for a good night's’ rest. The items are based on the five senses – touch, taste, smell, sight and sound. Each activity is a suggestion, and can be easily modified to create a positive experience for any stage of the dementia journey. The Sleep Kit also contains a custom-made sleep diary, which outlines each item and suggestions on how it can be used, as well as the opportunity to journal the experience.
I currently work as an Activity Coordinator in a long-term care home. When I began spending time there, I mostly worked in the evening time. Some individuals experience what has been labelled as “Sundowning”, which is an increase in agitation in the late afternoon and into the evening. In many instances, even sitting down and spending some time with that person was helpful. Sometimes I would bring them into a quiet room, play music and do an aromatherapy session with them. I believe that human interaction is extremely powerful. But... caregivers are extremely busy, and sometimes it can be difficult to think of new ideas and to find the time to spend quality time together.
During my work at York Care Centre, I heard about a call for applications for a research grant based on support for caregivers. I applied, and was elated to discover that I had received a $50,000 award from the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation to test and validate The Sleep Kit. This award was then matched by the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation. I developed a research plan, with the help of my professor Dr. Janet Durkee-Lloyd who encouraged The Sleep Kit idea from the beginning.
We were able to recruit 41 participants and partners who used The Sleep Kit. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and The Sleep Kit intervention decreased the number of restless bouts for the majority of the participants in long-term care.
Eve Baird, Founder of The Sleep Kit