Care home staff on the night shift have ditched their traditional uniform for pyjamas to make it less confusing for patients with dementia.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Beeches is a specialist dementia care home Picture: BEECHES RESIDENTIAL HOMEThe Beeches is a specialist dementia care home Picture: BEECHES RESIDENTIAL HOME (Image: BEECHES RESIDENTIAL HOME)

The Beeches Residential Home, in Ixworth, is trialling the initiative with the aim of providing a visual cue to residents that it is time for bed, helping them to settle happily for the evening.

For many people living with dementia it can be confusing and disorientating to get ready for bed or wake in the middle of the night and see care staff working.

So, by wearing PJs, the home hopes it will remind residents that it is night-time, helping them to get back to sleep.

Bev Shave, deputy manager of The Beeches Care Home, which is a dementia specialist home, said: "With many of our residents living with the later stages of dementia, we appreciate how confusing it must be to get ready for bed when a care worker is in a day-time uniform.

East Anglian Daily Times: Staff at Beeches care home in Ixworth are wearing their PJs for the night shift to help residents with dementia Picture: BEECHES RESIDENTIAL HOMEStaff at Beeches care home in Ixworth are wearing their PJs for the night shift to help residents with dementia Picture: BEECHES RESIDENTIAL HOME (Image: BEECHES RESIDENTIAL HOME)

"Many individuals with dementia regularly struggle with sleep deprivation, which then leads to irritability and mood swings the next day, along with a lack of energy.

"We're hoping that this trial will reduce their stress at bedtime and help them feel more at ease about going to bed.

"The quality of life for our residents is of the utmost importance to us. So, by improving sleeping patterns, we're hoping to increase the happiness of our residents."

Dementia is an illness caused by damage to the brain by other diseases, such as Alzheimer's.

East Anglian Daily Times: PJs for dementia - Bev Shave, deputy manager of The Beeches Care Home, with a colleague Picture: CONTRIBUTEDPJs for dementia - Bev Shave, deputy manager of The Beeches Care Home, with a colleague Picture: CONTRIBUTED (Image: CONTRIBUTED)

Symptoms often include memory loss and difficulties with problem-solving or thinking.

According to the Alzheimer's Society, around 850,000 people are living with dementia in the UK.