This paper descibes the decreased sleep quality of persons with dementia (PWD) and the impact of that quality on the PWD and their caregivers. The project is in response to an increased need for occupational therapists to address sleep. Sleep seems to be a forgotten occupation; yet it is a core occupation essential to the health and well-being for all populations. Dementia negatively affects sleep quality, and impaired sleep has potential to affect other occupations. This is an area of growing need in occupational therapy practice. It is also clear that decreased sleep quality of PWD may affect behaviors, their caregivers, and the relationships between the two. The conservative or non-pharmacological interventions for sleep disturbance are often overlooked as viable solutions and sleep in PWD is typically treated with tranquilizing drugs. Persrons with dementia and caregivers will benefit from understanding the non-pharmacological interventions that are evidence-based and delivered from an occupational therapy perspective. Occupational therapy can make sleep managment a priority and help bring non-pharmacological interventions to the identified population with a holistic approach. The intent is to provide a summary of the non-pharmacological interventions to caregivers and those with dementia and provide an informative article for occupational therapists treating this population.
