Advice

Is it typical for people with dementia to sleep a lot during the day?

I care for a lady of 99 with dementia, currently she has 4 carers throughout the day, but nobody at night with her and I worry about this. She doesnt know shes in her own home most of the time and tends to get up all hours in the night, get dressed etc. Should she have someone with her as i worry she'd be very disoriented and scared?

My father is 76, a lifelong smoker, has MDS, COPD and diabetes Ii. He lives with my family and we have an 11 and 12 year old. He no longer takes care of himself, sleeps 20 hours a day, has horribly droopy and tearing eyes, fecal incontinence while asleep and falls out of bed fairly often while sleeping. His hemoglobin was so low for so long(between 7-9) but he just started a barely approved drug and jumped to 12. We thought that would be our salvation but nothing has changed. Is this dementia? He wakes at 7:30pm and thinks it’s morning. He’s very confused and yet seems “with it” at other times. He is an uncooperative patient! I now have to manage and dole out all meds. Blood sugars are being well managed with only Metformin.

My wife is 61 and she sleeps a lot during the day and some simple things she doesn't know how to do. What can I do to help her

The concern for my dad that I have is how weak he is when he does get up. But if he’s not eating or drinking for 18+ hours at a time, I feel like that is a problem too. Sometimes he’s up wandering all night and sometimes he sleeps for 24 hours. I just don’t know what is the right thing to do.

Good to read people's comments. I look after by 91yr old Father, who has started sleeping for 2 days in a row and then gets up for a day or 2 and sleeps in the afternoon. Keeping him hydrated is my main issue. If he is in bed asleep at least I know he is safe, warm and comfortable. So terribly sad to see your loved one go through this evil disease.

Hi , my father has Hallucinations, he talks to people who doesn’t exist, and he also think there is people that attacking him while he is asleep, sometimes he tries to cook a meal and he is about to go out and give it to her imaginary girlfriend! He doesn’t sleep as much , he wakes up a few times and he fights with imaginary people. But he remembers the past, it’s like he didn’t forget anything he just talks nonetheless and he sees not real things! I know it’s really hard for him, but it’s also hard for me to take care of him and I can’t even have a good sleep, I wake up every a few hours because of him fighting, my headache won’t go away and U have no one else to take care of him. I would really love if you can help me how to mange This situation.

I’m only 46 and sleep about 14 hours each day. No trouble sleeping at night but husband says I speak out a lot. Already diagnosed in 2017 w cognitive disorder. Of course appointment w neuropsychologist was postponed. Also have neuromuscular disease. Scared.

My husband has vascular dementia and mixed Alzheimer’s he sleeps at least 15 hours.If I have to get him up earlier he is exhausted. I used to worry about it and got very little information from the medics . I have learned to roll with it and it is less stressful. Thankyou for this article.

Hi my name is Betsy my 68 year old husband was diagnosed a year ago with late stage Alzheimer’s/ Dementia. He has gone down hill so fast he sleeps like 20 hours a day, don’t talk hardly at all to me or his kids. His eating is okay but he has cut down drastically and I have to keep telling him to eat he thinks he already did. He don’t remember how to use anything where to go or where something is even when it’s right in front of him. He cries all the time when he is up about his legs feet and back killing him. And out of no where he will get very nasty with his mouth. Then he cries and tells be he wants to die but can’t live without me.

Hi, my aunty had dementia. At night she will be awake and keep walking around home doing cleaning and checking the home lock. Does anyone knows how can I put her into sleep?

My husband is 61. Ever since his first stroke in October 2017 his condition has continually deteriorated. He is now left with vascular dementia due to all the TIAs or mini strokes that keep happening. He sleeps more and more and more to the point he is prone on our couch all day except to eat or shower and toilet. Then he sleeps all night as well. So he is easily sleeping 18-20 hrs. in 24. EVERYTHING is exhausting for & Ever since November 2019 when he woke up feeling dizzy he has been in a constant state of dizziness since then which has greatly affected his gait and balance.

This is so helpful!!!! I was really becoming concerned. I took my aunt to the doctor and she had all kinds of tests and all were normal... but I was still worrying about her sleeping so much. I'd always try to wake her periodically, but hearing that it's normal in later stages, I'm relieved.

My husband is only 68 and has frontal lobe dementia. He sleeps a lot during the day and night. He falls out of bed a lot

I just learned that dementia patients in nursing homes often sleep during the day because they are overwhelmed by the chaos of a busy place during the daytime. They get sensory overload and they can’t cope. But at night, when the lights are dim and it’s quieter, they can explore their space and feel calmer and a little more in control. Knowing this brought be a lot of comfort. Not trying to “fix” it anymore. My dad is 94 and seems to sleep all day but is up and pleasant at night!

I am feeling so lost right now. My husband has Alzheimer’s and he has just about lost the ability to walk. I am the sole care giver and there is so much I don’t know. He will sleep until 5 in the afternoon if I let him. I try to get him to walk and exercise but it seems like a lost cause. I promised him I would keep him home but I don’t have any idea what to do to help him and me.