My mum is 76 years old and has vascular dementia (plus, possibly, Alzheimer's). She has been sleeping a lot since she suffered from a stroke, causing some brain damage, 13 years ago. However, recently, it has been very difficult to wake her and keep her awake. I think that she is nearing the end of life.
Her husband has also been sleeping more and more. He used to doze in his chair; now, he goes for a 'nap' about 1 pm and stays in bed until about 5 pm. I know that he is dealing with a broken sleep every night: nevertheless, I think that he sleeps excessively. I think this is due to his heart issues and general decline in health.
My worry isn't that either will die soon, but how the other will cope when that happens. I have completely accepted the inevitability of death, and I am trying to get the others in my family to accept it, too.
If your LO is sleeping through the night as well as in the day, then do try to find acceptance of the inevitable. If they are awake during the night, ask for something (such as melatonin) to help regulate their sleep. However, if they aren't waking you, it's likely that they are just sleeping more.
Mia, so sorry but it sounds like you are handling things the best you can.
As far as getting your family to accept, what you see happening, they may not so don't put a lot your energy into it. Some people love denial and want to stay there.
It seems normal to me and also a blessing. I guess we need to make sure they're hydrated and eating enough... but it seems that sleep is a good thing. I'll read other comments.
Try either a security camera or even a baby monitor. I have both and an alarmed bed pad. If the person moves off the pad, it alerts me. Then I look at the baby monitor to see what he’s doing. I keep monitor and alarm sensor on my hghtstand at night. It may really interfere with your sleep though if the person is really active.
if the person is sleeping all day and awake at night, you’ll need to find ways to keep him up in day…music, TV, visitors, activities that’s he’s able to do, whatever he can do. Try especially to be active after 1–2pm, so he can sleep at night. My LO naps on and off until about 1pm, then I try to keep him awake. Dinner about 5:30, a bit of tv, then bedtime 7:30 and with help of above (melatonin etc). He’ll usually sleep thought the night until about 7am.
Speak to Dr about things that may help him sleep at night…melatonin, magnesium, there’s even alcohol free ZQuill. See what the dr says, Don’t add anything like that without speaking to Dr first though.
My husband couldn't stay awake and would fall asleep in the middle of a conversation. A fall with a broken tibia revealed a massive bone infection, resulting in below knee amputation. His hematologist said these infections can be difficult to detect and caused anemia and extreme fatigue.
If you're concerned as to whether or not he is sleeping at night, you can always put an inexpensive security camera in his bedroom that you can check on him through your phone when you get up to use the bathroom overnight.(I used the Blink cameras) Just an idea. But if you find that he's sleeping all night and most of the day, you may want to bring hospice on board as it may be a sign that his life is coming to an end in the next several months, as folks do tend to sleep a lot when death is coming. You can call the hospice agency of your choice yourself and they will come out and do an evaluation to see if your husband qualifies for their help. And it all will covered 100% under your husbands Medicare. My late husband slept anywhere from 16-20 hours/day the last 6-8 months of his life, and was under hospice care in our home for the last 22 months of his life. Best wishes as you continue on this journey with your husband.
It's normal for them to sleep more when the start decline more, I feel like it's because being awake is so hard for them. Sleep is where they get there peace.
I had a son, when he was little he would get hurt and then just fall asleep. It was his defense mechanism I guess. One time he got his hand shut in a car door. He instantly fell asleep, woke up an hour later crying, he cracked a bone in his hand.
So it seems we all go backwards to what we were as a child as they say , you come into this world with diapers and you go out in diapers.
Any more information would be helpful for us to give you a better answer . I'm not sure if that answers the question you are asking or not, hope it was helpful
You say that your husband aged 74 has AZ/dementia, so you are not looking for ‘significance’ about whether that is indicated. What are you actually asking? Are you thinking that all the sleep might indicate that death is on the way? Or what?
Her husband has also been sleeping more and more. He used to doze in his chair; now, he goes for a 'nap' about 1 pm and stays in bed until about 5 pm. I know that he is dealing with a broken sleep every night: nevertheless, I think that he sleeps excessively. I think this is due to his heart issues and general decline in health.
My worry isn't that either will die soon, but how the other will cope when that happens. I have completely accepted the inevitability of death, and I am trying to get the others in my family to accept it, too.
If your LO is sleeping through the night as well as in the day, then do try to find acceptance of the inevitable.
If they are awake during the night, ask for something (such as melatonin) to help regulate their sleep. However, if they aren't waking you, it's likely that they are just sleeping more.
As far as getting your family to accept, what you see happening, they may not so don't put a lot your energy into it. Some people love denial and want to stay there.
if the person is sleeping all day and awake at night, you’ll need to find ways to keep him up in day…music, TV, visitors, activities that’s he’s able to do, whatever he can do. Try especially to be active after 1–2pm, so he can sleep at night. My LO naps on and off until about 1pm, then I try to keep him awake. Dinner about 5:30, a bit of tv, then bedtime 7:30 and with help of above (melatonin etc). He’ll usually sleep thought the night until about 7am.
Speak to Dr about things that may help him sleep at night…melatonin, magnesium, there’s even alcohol free ZQuill. See what the dr says, Don’t add anything like that without speaking to Dr first though.
But if you find that he's sleeping all night and most of the day, you may want to bring hospice on board as it may be a sign that his life is coming to an end in the next several months, as folks do tend to sleep a lot when death is coming.
You can call the hospice agency of your choice yourself and they will come out and do an evaluation to see if your husband qualifies for their help. And it all will covered 100% under your husbands Medicare.
My late husband slept anywhere from 16-20 hours/day the last 6-8 months of his life, and was under hospice care in our home for the last 22 months of his life.
Best wishes as you continue on this journey with your husband.
I had a son, when he was little he would get hurt and then just fall asleep. It was his defense mechanism I guess. One time he got his hand shut in a car door. He instantly fell asleep, woke up an hour later crying, he cracked a bone in his hand.
So it seems we all go backwards to what we were as a child as they say , you come into this world with diapers and you go out in diapers.
Any more information would be helpful for us to give you a better answer . I'm not sure if that answers the question you are asking or not, hope it was helpful
Best of luck to you
Wishing you all the best.