Any ideas on how to sleep more than 4 hours a day?

Just FYI for anyone considering Benadryl (aka diphenhydramine or zzzquil) as a sleep aid, a study was just released saying it and other similar drugs increase dementia risk: http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/common-anticholinergic-drugs-like-benadryl-linked-increased-dementia-risk-201501287667

Please get to a therapist or doctor who can address your anxiety about your caregiving duties. Add some melatonin a non-drug sleep aid that will reset your biological clock. You can buy a bottle at Walmart for about $3. Hang in there and know you are doing your best!

... I would instead suggest melatonin. Time released 10mg works for me but your mileage may vary!

Are you exercising. I try to walk during day And I do yoga

I definitely would not recommend using Benadryl. In some people like myself and my son it causes hyperactivity not drowsiness. I can tell you that our experience with just 3mg of melatonin has been terrific. My son has had problems with insomnia for years and now he falls asleep within an hour of taking the melatonin and sleeps for 8 hours.

Bach's night time rescue remedy capsules have worked for me in the past when I've been insomniac through obsessing about a subject. At the very worst, they're definitely harmless.

A neurologist recommended a combination of melatonin + magnesium at bedtime - both 400 mg. He told me magnesium will reduce anxiety and melatonin will help me sleep. Seems to help.

I just found out that the body goes through a type cycle for sleep. We enter a "sleep gate" every 90 minutes to 2 hours. If you miss your sleep gate, you have to wait for the next one. Tossing and turning in bed won't help. It's better to get up, drink a warm cup of herbal tea, think of peaceful things (such as what you're grateful for) listen to soothing music--just like juddabuddhaboo advises. Then when you feel sleepy, go back to bed.

My guess is that you are worried that while you sleep your mother will need you.
I'll bet you get up and check her when you wake.
You've unconciously set your "internal clock" to wake you.My advice (works for me) is that I "cat nap" at any opportunity.
Short sessions of sleep will work just as well as a good solid night's rest and keep you healthy without sleep aides.
The trick is to find the time when you know your mother is settled and comfortable for an hour or two.Set an alarm to wake you so you won't worry that you'll sleep through a crisis.
You will relieve mind of worry, thus dozing off quickly and deeply for that stolen hour.
Also consider are unduly attentive to needs that may not exist?
Make a mental list of everytime you check on her and ask yourself was that really necessary ?
You'd be surprised how easy it is to turn ourselves into dotting mother hens.
Keep well.Sleep well.

Many good, gentle ideas in this thread. I would add: use 10 slower, deeper breaths (throughout the day too!) This is enough to calm the "fight or flight" response that can creep in - it also turns on the "relaxation response" in the body. Middle of the night it can help bring the mind back to the present and to the body, instead of fueling nervous or anxious thoughts in past or future.