Should I be concerned that my 92 year old grandmother that lives independently sleeps until 2 o'clock in the afternoon?

As my mom was aging I remember wondering what would happen and when. How would I know what to do? Would it be many days or would it be tomorrow? Would she be in pain and what could I do for her? Hopefully the story of my mom's passing will help you. You may have many years ahead of you with your grandmother and I hope they are pleasant and kind years.

My mom lived independently until she passed at nearly 93 yrs old. She told us no extraordinary measures, but she did indeed want to continue to live. As with the others this is just to affirm that she slept a lot, but it was more waking early in the morning, then a morning nap, an afternoon nap and then off to bed at night.

She had friends in a healthy bones exercise class that she went to twice a week. She had me and other children and grandchildren, mostly on the phone and her two sisters, on the phone. She read a lot, was cranky at times and happy and kind at other times. I think she was cranky mostly because she was a little scared.

One night she went to bed with an apple and banana at her night stand. When I checked in on her at 9 am she had eaten half the apple and part of the banana, but she had passed away some time early that morning. My cardiologist said dying that way was fast and painless. She lost consciousness and never struggled.

Many people say it was a blessing:
That she lived independently
She was mostly comfortable
Not hospitalized or moved away from her home and things
Lived a long time
Was loved...

Still we all miss her every day. For the time she was here with us, she needed a lot of sleep, starting with one nap and that went on for years, increasing as time went on.

I realize you are concerned and understandably. My great Aunt who just passed away at age 98 use to go to bed at 6:00 and sleep until about 10:00 or so and was in perfect health - she just required more sleep as she got older.

A heart problem can cause someone to be quite tired as well. Both my father and FIL had heart problems and fell asleep in the chair quite often and also required plenty of rest. If the doctor says her heart is OK; then perhaps it is just the body responding to the aging process - or she could be depressed as this causes great fatigue.

Hope this is just an aging response and nothing more. Take care.

My MIL passed away almost two months ago, soon after her 93rd birthday. For the last year of her life, the amount of time she slept kept increasing until she was sleeping close to 18 or more hours each day. Her husband who had passed away two years earlier, at age 90, had done pretty much the same thing. Both passed quietly and comfortably, simply not waking from their sleep at some point. I think that in each case, their bodies were worn out and I am thankful that they slipped away comfortably when it was time. They had made it clear years ago, that they did not want artificial life support or extraordinary measures at the end of their lives and I think their deaths, at the very end at least, went the way they had always hoped. It can be hard to accept the changes that come toward the end, but I feel that, in my husband's parents' case, we learned how to keep them comfortable and cared for, and to just be with them when there was not much else to be done. I believe they knew they were loved and that we had done the best we could, and they were ready for whatever came next. All the best to you, your mother and your family as you walk this path.

My mother goes to bed around 8pm and gets up around 4am. She then goes into the living room and sits in her recliner, where she sleeps off and on all day. She does have activities, but that chair is her other bed.

Sonny, I have wondered the same thing! I swear, my mom would sleep all day if I let her! She lives here with me, so I just go in every so often and talk to her...open the drapes and hope to get her moving. If she gets up to pee, I just make the bed real quick and then she feels like she has to get up. Does anyone go to the Dr with her that could ask him about it? It could be a health issue-or,it may just be age...the Dr would relieve your mind. Some days, like today, mom is up so early I have to tell her to go back to sleep! Old age is just a roller coaster ride as far as I can see! Good luck! Mame

Just to be sure, get her doctor to evaluate her nutrition. My mother, 92, living at home with a part-time caregiver, ate only when the caregiver was there to put the meal in front of her and sit with her while she ate it. I estimate she was averaging at most 500 calories a day of intake. She lost a lot of weight, became extremely weak, and soon slept even while the caregiver was there---and missed more meals as a result. When she had to go to the hospital and rehab after a fall, she received proper nutrition, gained 10 pounds in six weeks, and popped back. She is now in assisted living and approaching her normal weight. She still sleeps a great deal, but her physical and mental condition have improved almost miraculously. Good luck.

As we age, melatonin is depleted and if one sleeps during the day then the circadian rhythm is upset. Physical activity during the day is best and a routine where one goes to bed at a specific time and arises in the morning to see the sun which will stimulate melatonin. Sleeping too much is also a sign of depression especially early morning sleeping. Get her to a mental health professional, check her eating habits, and physical activity. All these can generate a more balanced sleep pattern. Best of health to you and her! (a nurse)

Sonny - when she is awake between 2 PM - 10 PM, does she do things, does she eat and drink enough, can she do her ADL's? Has she done any wandering at night? Is she aware of the time, like she knows @ 5:30 PM it's the evening news.

If she really seems cognitive of the day and time and can do her ADL's, then I'd chalk it up to normal aging. Lucky you and very lucky her! But if not, I'd have her evaluated by a gerontologist to see if there could be a dementia happening and medication to slow down the progression of the disease. My mom was in IL @ your mom's age and no real issues but she was in a gerontology group and was on Exelon pill and Remeron. Then @ 94, she started missing putting her "I'm up" door sign on her IL apt door and making it to lunch as she was sleeping past noon, then wandering at night and having significant weight loss and dehydration issues. One thing that did help the last year or so she was in IL was to get torch-style lights and put them on timers in her bedroom and living room so that there would be light up in the rooms on a regular consistent cycle to make her realize it's daytime and you should be up. Table lamps didn't do this, plus she could more easily turn these off. She would nap during the day if need be but the lights reinforced the cycle of day & night. Really I think this kept her from NH for 1 yr.

them cows aint gonna milk themselves.
honestly, at 92 the shower could turn rainbow colored and i wouldnt care. dont ya think maybe the old gal is tired?

Of course she's earned a rest!! Now tell me --- who is going to provide it? In my case, my mom has problems saying "please" and "thank you". If you read in the trread about dysfunctional families, hello - I'm one of those. My dear sweet old mother was never a warm person. She is neither domestic nor maternal. She had me because her birth control failed. (I heard that quite often) she is the poster child for passive-aggressive, and I am the only person she's got! I told her a thousand times, make alist of things you would like me to do- she doesn't. Why? Because that would be asking!
I have dropped my life, moved to a city I don't want to live in, have no support group except for you guys. I can't find a job here to save my life and I'm so depressed that I start each day with self-loathing. I need help, but have no insurance. I haven't been to a doctor in two years. So, capnhardass, you step into my shoes and pull this plow --- I need a freaking break! And THAT'S what I will accomplish. She will either be the person she tells everyone she is (independent) or she will learn to ask for help like everyone else does.