Advice

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

My wife started with Alzheimer’s around 4 years ago
Very slowly at first hardly noticed The last year she has deteriorated quickly. Sleeping is now becoming a problem we go to bed quite early and watch tele how ever she goes to sleep early and most mornings she will awake at 1 2 3 4 or 5 in the morning will not go back to bed
During this time it is obvious that she is still tired resulting in want to go to bed at six in the evening and falling asleep very quickly now we are totally nocturnal
This can be very hard for me COPD stage four using oxygen
Don’t know what to do anymore
Ken

It was impossible for me to believe the diagnosis: my husband - a Ph.d Nuclear Physicist and author - was, at age 85, suffering from Alzheimer's Disease! During the ten years since that fateful day, I have observed, with great sadness, the downward spiral of his thinking process, plus physical symptoms....like incontinence , walking difficulty, and garbled speech. Long-Term-Care insurance and helpful caregivers have enabled us to keep him at home.....for which I am very, very grateful.

,

My dear husband (a brilliant nuclear physicist) was diagnosed with the dreaded Alzheimer's eight years ago. By paying caregivers $22 an hour -- mostly reimbursed by Long-Term-Care insurance - - I have been able to keep him at home. At 95, he now sleeps most of the time, is incontinent, and unable to speak coherently. .I never leave his side. We have adjustable beds and TV, and a friendly doctor who makes house calls. I thank God he is still with me.

Came across this group and very glad. My dad is in a.n upscale assisted living. He’s 89 and quite ill, dialysis, heart condition etc. he hasn’t been the same since surgery in Nov and doesn’t sleep all night.
Literally up all night and naps by day. He’s petrified comes late afternoon and I should mention he’s legally blind which makes matters worse,
Very quick onset dementia and we had to hire aides all night long.
If left unattended he gets very agitated and calls me all night long.
He’s falling and beginning to get nasty and confused, doe st know where he is most of the time.
I’ don’t think this assisted living is trained with this illness and considering moving him to a memory care facility.
I’m getting so depressed, it’s so difficult coping with this and so unsure of what is best for him,
Thanks everyone for your support!

I look after my elderly aunt 88 with vascular dementia assisted by carers as I still work full time. Due to sleeping most of the day I am getting into problems with her getting dehydrated up until a few months ago she would get up in afternoon and make tea. She still can make tea but won’t get out of bed. Tried leaving water, flask with tea cup of tea holds the heat but not successful. Any ideas what I can do.

My husband also sleeps a lot he is 90 years old I am 75. he wakes up confused and wanting to go home even though he is at his house' he insists that I take him home and calls me a liar when I tell him that he is already home this happens several times a day also I can not get him to lie straight in the bed and he complains about neck problems does any one know a way to accomplish this I am not strong enough to pick him up I have health problems of my own

Has anyone tried any alternative supplements ? My dad is 76 with mixed dementia and the disease is working so quick through his body . In november he could walk with z frame now in less than 3 months he is in a wheel chair with maximum care.
F x

Thank you to everyone who is posting and responding! It helps to know one is not alone!
FYI: my 86 year old mother has mid-stage dementia but also a lot of other health issues (COPD / bronchiectasis, thyroid, atrial fib., etc.) and is completely exhausted all the time. She states "all I want to do is go back to bed" all day long. She sleeps through the night and normally sleeps about 16 out of 24 hours if not more.

My husband is 82 years old, has diabetes, on 2 different insulins, and has 6 stents in his heart. The past few years he sleeps all day everyday and I do not know what to do. I have asked our Primary Dr. and he has no answers for me about his constant sleeping. Is there anyone who is a specialist in dementia with older people sleeping all day everyday and is always tired. He only gets up if he may be hungry.
I would appreciate help why my husband is constantly sleeping during the day and all night too

My mother has vascular dementia she is 84 and in a nursing home . She can’t walk and is double incontinant she eats very little and struggles to swallow . She sleeps most of the day and night and talks very little . Is she at the end of her life ?

Hello
My Mother has mid stage dementia we think,
Since Christmas she has had no energy, not wanting to eat or drink, she is either asleep on the couch or in bed, she has had a UTI and chest infection which she has had antibiotics (now Finished), she went to hospital all her vitals and bloods were ok, they have suggested that she is depressed or her dementia has got worse, she has mixed dementia and Alzheimer, she currently lives on her own with carers going in twice a day.
we are at a loss what to do with her, i have asked what we can do to help she says i just want to sleep. i cant keep my eyes open my head hurts
any advice or help would really be appreciated.

Hi I've been diagnosed with vascular dementia and alzermers last March, I'm in very early stages but I'm so tired my eyes are very heavy, my legs drive me mad I do try to keep going but it's hard I look after my husband who is paralized I'm 66 with two beautiful daughters who are there for us and have such loving five grand children, I'm on medication and in April they are going to increase the tablet, I feel for all those who have to go though this and will do anything to slow it down xxx

Reading all these comments helps put my mind at ease. My husband is 83 with dementia and late stages of lymphoma. He has started sleeping a lot. He’s not eating or drinking and is exhausted and paranoid when awake. I feel better now knowing I’m not ignoring him

My mom is 93 and had hip surgery 6 months ago after she fell and broke her hip. I always knew that dementia was kicking in a few years before but since the surgery she is 100% worse. Her mind comes and goes and she has started sleeping a lot. As much as 12 hrs during the day and sleeps from 6 pm to 6am in the night. I heard that when they start to sleep so much the possibility of death is increasing. Honestly I would hate for my mom to die but when I look at her now she is only a shell of who she used to be. No quality of life.

My husband has has mixed type dementia and perhaps Alzheimers now for 5 years. He is becoming progressively worse, does not cooperate with personal hygiene, sleeps more extensively and is always angry and arguing with me. He is confused where he lives and is beginning to mix up our family identities. He shuffles and has lost muscle matter. We are afraid of a fall. I don't want to put him in a nursing home but when is it no longer safe to keep him at home. I am 76 years old and have been battling colon cancer with mets to the liver for 7 years now and feel the stress is becoming too much for me. What to do?