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And then also sleeping all night? It is possible that your elderly loved one has a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. Even if they seem to sleep through the night, people with sleep apnea are not really getting restorative sleep, so they are tired during the daytime.

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Hi it sounds like my Dad used to do, I don't think that's abnormal,
It probably has to do with age.
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Older people sleep a lot. Let them sleep....daytime, afternoons, mid-mornings or all night. It doesn't matter.
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It is possible that your loved one has a sleep disorder like sleep apnea. Even if they seem to sleep through the night, people with sleep apnea are not really getting restorative sleep, so they are tired during the daytime. My ninety-year old mother has severe apnea (we had her tested in the hospital). When she gets up in the morning, she says that she slept well, but then right after breakfast, she falls asleep sitting on the couch and dozes all morning. She is not aware that her brain is waking her up all night in order for her to get gulps of air when her throat has closed shut. When we tried both the bi-pap and C-pap machines, she was not able to handle the high air pressure required to get the air down her throat. It made her miserable to wear the mask, and she couldn't remember how to turn the machine on and off when she needed to get up to go to the bathroom (another problem she has at night). So we had to give up on the machines. She has no responsibilities in life anymore, so we just let her sleep when she needs to. When she is awake, we enjoy her company (she lives with us) and her great sense of humor.
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Hi BJ,
My mom is 90, and I live with her. She has CHF. As time passes, she sleeps more and more. She will just nod out in her chair, mouth wide open (lol), or she will fall asleep with her book open.
Or, sometimes she will actually go to bed to take a nap during the day. Because I have been with her for a year now, I have watched the naps become more often, and longer. Sometimes I think it could be a little depression, and other times I just think her body needs to sleep. Just like ME! smile
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Ok, her final cause of death will probably by Heart Failure with CHF, or Ischemic Cardiomyopathy with CHF. Get ready for it. Remember before you die, you get sick. If she sleeps frequently be aware that this is normal for her. Let her sleep. Love her. Be in her company as often as you can, for the day will come, sooner or later when she will fall asleep for the last time.
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Yes, and thank you.
What kind of "sick" do you mean?
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I think this is normal my mom is 82 and she falls asleep at the drop of a hat I think its just part of the aging process looking forward to it myself LOL
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Ok, Let me explain. Unless you are fortunate enough to die in your sleep, remember Kenny Rogers' song about "The Gambler"?, then you will most likely become ill before you die, i.e. "sick".
It could be anything from reoccuring health problems, pain, inability to do a task, such as eat, go potty, bathe, walk, etc. It could be excessive sleepiness. It could be stepped-up pain. It could be, and this is the most likely, breathing difficulty. This is the one that spells the end is near. The MD's and the nurses willnot mention it, but the breathinjg is the key....the monitor will show it later....When flatline happens, remember the patient is not DEAD. Everyone thinks that, but the truth of the matter is that there may be some brain activity and the body is still warm.
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Sleeping more comes with advanced age. It could also be related to medications, sleep apnea, infections, diet,etc. Is this something new? If so, I would take them to the dr. to rule out above mentioned things. But generally it is OK for a 90 yr old to sleep more. It doesn't mean they are dying, it just means they are old and tired. Just keep an eye on their skin to prevent pressure sores.
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HI Norene,
I went to look who you are.....you write so well. Thank you for your comments and help. Do you know of CHF first hand? You seem to. I am learning as I go along. I read alot, and of course, I can see mom everyday! I have found, the less fear I have, and the more just day to day interaction I do, the less fear I have! lol I think she worries if she feels I am "shut down" in my room.
HER mom died of CHF, in her sleep (in the hospital with pneumonia). I would wish that for anyone.......to die in their sleep. I am hyper-vigilant, and that is hard work. She has an on-going cough that bothers me. She calls it "her old sinus probelm"(DEnial), but sometime it sounds deep (like she is trying to "cough something up). A visiting nurse said once (fleetingly) that this kind of cough was a bad sign. Doctors and nurses are SO secretive. This is not a judement, it is an observation!!!! lol
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If she is able to sleep at night and it sounds like she is very loved by all of you and it is great she has a sense of humor-she probably would not tolarate the sleep mask as long as she has a commode near by or can get into the bathroom by herself at night I would just enjoy her time left here with you and actually this is giving you time to prepare for what is to come-just love her as she is-bless you.
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When my clients are alert we do breathing exercises: morning, noon and night...it really helps!

(The 4-11-7 breathing excercise)
Use the nose only, not the mouth

Inhale through the nose to the count of 4
Hold breath and continue counting to 11
Exhale from 1 to 7 slowly

Do 10 to 20 times per day...helps every cell in the body and will boost their energy level. Great for pain, depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, skin, etc.
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Wow, I never thought of apnea. My mom is 92 and can sleep most of the day then not at night. She will go to bed about midnight and sleep a few hours then wake for at least 3 hours then fall asleep again. I thought it was because she was sleeping during the day. She claims she is afraid to fall asleep for fear it will be the last time.
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My mom will be 83 next month she has always been a night owl she falls asleep periodically throughout the day and feels like someone is going to say something LO we wouldn't so she blamesd it on her medicine, although that could be I take one of the same ones she does but at night the best sleeping pill in the world if I would have known that I would have asked for it going thru menopause LOL than she fools around in her room till sometimes 5 in the morning and sleeps till 11 in the morning I feel she is getting her rest, she does as she pleases and I let her, No one knows how long they have left on this earth. She doesn't take good care of herself mostly laying in bed watching tv reading the rags ND EATING EVERYTHING SHE ISN'T SUPPOSED TO BUT THAT IS WHAT SHE WANTS, SHE HAS NO FRIENDS MY FATHER IS LONG DEAD AND THE SIBLINGS DON'T BOTHER SO SHE WILL PROBABLY GO IN HER SLEEP SOME NIGHT AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT i THINK i HOPE WHEN THE TIME COMES SHE DOES AS SHE IS PETRIFIED OF DYING. SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS I HAVE A SPLINT ON AND GO TO HIT A "A" AND HIT THE CAPS LOCK AND ZI'M TOO FAR DOWN THE PAGE TO DELETE AND START OVER. HAVE A GOOD ONE AND LET HER ENJOY HER TIME IF IT IS SLEEPING I COULD USE SOME OF THAT MYSELF LOL
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No, there is no problem...Elderly people often get tired easily and I have seen many of them who sleep during the day and also have no problem sleeping through the night.
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Let her sleep. Jack LaLanne says breathe in deeply, through the nose, as deep as you can tolerate, hold for a few seconds and then blow out through the mouth quickly. I love Jack.
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Being inactive is one reason for them to be falling asleep all the time. IF you are in your seat 24/7 you get so you don't want to move. That is why when you go to the hospital they make you get up and keep moving. Of course it depends on what condition they are in. But there is lots of ways to move around even while in your seat.

I have an 83 year old sister, when she was 80 she got a three wheel bike and she rides that thing all over. I live a mile and she rides it over here. What I am saying is, everyone needs to stay active. If she doesn't get active or it is too late because she has been in that chair too long, then yes she will sit in that chair until she dies. There are things you could do to get her interest up. Like play cards, do a puzzle with her. Also there are books on tapes you can get for her to listen to, get them from the library. to start out sit close to her so she can see what you are doing and I think she may just join in.
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I am ninety years old. I live alone and manage quite well. However, lately I found I am short of breath and I am sleepy most of the time. I HATE being sleepy, it makes me have difficulty thinking. I want to be mentally alert. Whoever it was that said she was looking forward to old age must be very young. I can tell you it is no fun.
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Mollie! Bless you! Not many people on this site who are ninety. I would not worry about the sleepiness at your age. It's natural, unless there is significant Sleep Apnea involved ( Obstructed). I would, however, be a little concerned about the shortness of breath. That's red flag for cardiac. You do have a cardiologist, don't you?
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Concerning cardiac , as Rhett Butler said "Frankly my dear I don't give a damn."
I know I am suffering from some depression, at my age, most of my friends have died or are in the process. The younger people treat me as if I'm some fragile object that they have to handle with care.
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Being short of breath and you are sleepy most of the time? They have medication they can give you for that. My sister is 85 and that is what they did for her. It could be the medication you are on like High blood pressure meds. can do that. I hope you find an answer. I can only tell you what I have seen or heard. They call them the golden years, would you like to kick their butt for that remark.
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Well there are times when I fall asleep when I hadn't planned on it. I do think children do too much for their aging parents. My mother lived alone until she was 89 when she went into a home she quickly went down hill as she didn't have anything she was required to do,.
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To Reba, You could be right the only med I take is for high blood pressure. As for my golden years you are so right. Frankly I felt fine until I turned ninety, a lot of it is in my head but i keep thinking of Peggy Lee and the song Is That All There Is.
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mollie90, I am 75 and I do the same thing, nothing wrong with taking a nap. Enjoy it. I take care of my husband who has AD and he is in bed 24/7. That is a lot of work. Glad you are up and about. Just found out I lose 7 years off of my life for being a caregiver. Hospice comes in and helps, thank God for them
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Well Mollie90 you hang in there. I hope you make it to 100 or higher. God bless!
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Mollie: Keep singing. This time, try Doris Day instead of Peggy Lee. Que Sera Sera, What ever will be, will be. The furture's not ours, you see, Que Sera, Sera.
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That song is just the opposite of what I believe. I think we control most of the things that happen in our lives. I don't mean those we love, we can't control them but our lives, it is up to us. I look at my life and I can't think of one thing that happened that wasn't because of my actions.
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this is not an easy answer because there are so very many reasons for falling asleep - from heart/respiratory diseas and sleep apnea, to psychological (depression) to medication effects (especially with heartblood pressure medication), underactive thyroid, anemia etc. So any person with these symptoms shoud have a throgough exam and labwork to rule out any of the causes that are "fixable". As people get older, many dont hear or see well and this does affect how they participate and interact with the world.
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Oh I am going to try this breathing exercise with my mother. For myself, I recently remembered something from Hatha Yoga - the HA! breath. It's a bit more physical than my mother can handle (you stand, bring arms overhead while inhaling slowly, then push the breath out of your mouth with a forceful "Ha!" while dropping your upper body forward to hang loosely from the waist) but it's fine for me. Sometimes when I need to wake up and don't want to, I do the Ha! part while still in bed. Hahaha! It helps get me going.
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When I think about an 'issue' like this, I just remember the 'great circle of life': the end is just like the beginning (babies sleep more than they're awake, don't they?)
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