All my mother does is sleep all day and night. Is this normal?

My dad is 93 and just came to live with us. My mom past away on 11/07/16 and they were married for 56 years. He wakes up calling her name at times. He says he can't get over this lonely feeling he has. I have told him that it will take time and prayer to get past this lonely feeling. He is on medication for COPD and CHF, as well as, constant oxygen. He sleeps most of the day into the night. My children and try to engage him but after that short period he just goes back to sleep. Sometimes, I feel like I have lost two parents and not one. I am feeling very frustrated because I feel like I am failing at caring for him because he is not engaged like he used to be. Help???

Janinne1968, whatever else may be going on, your father is still mourning your mother. Prayer isn't going to help on its own. Perhaps a bereavement support group or a therapist specialising in bereavement can help. If you have hospice in your area, they can advise. Of course the loss induced stress is exhausting him.

Mickcindy, I don't know what stillnox is, but something is clearly out of whack. Take your friend to a naturpath or even a different doctor.

Carolinep80, no, it's not generally normal, but because you have not given any details, I can't advise further.

My wife is 80 years old and has dementia. She has just recently taken to sleeping for up to 20 hours a day. She doesn't eat by herself , I have to feed her, but even then she doesn't eat much. I have a struggle to get her out of bed and into a chair for the little time there is during the day. She doesn't understand me when I ask her to put one foot in front of the other to walk, she just stands there. I am 83 years old and she is very heavy for me to lift if she doesn't help me. I am trying to cope on my own but it is getting very difficult. What else can I do.

Dramlouie's experience is much like my Mother's and mine as far as she wanted to sleep all the time. Don't give up trying to engage a parent. If they are sleeping toomuch, take it slow. Get a blood screen and whatever testing they need. Are they dehydrated? anemic? malnourished? low on potassium? monitor their vitals. Whatever state they are in try to get them to do a little more. Sitting up. Mom can stand in front of the vanity while I make her up. It engages her. She likes to sing-a-long. work it out. Mom is at her mental peak in the 2 years we have been together. Her singing voice has gone from weak and scratchy to lovely to harmonize with her. She is singing in a higher clearer pitch than she used to. If she is only up for meals in the Dining room at her Personal Care Unit and maybe 2 or 3 other hours a day, that is progress. When we go out to a Dr's appointment or a drive she is usually more tired the next day. We were making progress. There is always something else that goes wrong and pulls her down. I have been running interference and nursing her back to health. You are very fortunate if you can focus on a parent sleeping too much. It is a blessing when your parent is alive, in your care and you try to nurture their well being. That is love from God shining on you and your parent. God Bless.

My 70 years old sister has dementia, for the past two months she is sleeping all day and wake at night. I am very worried because she was a happy person, now she is so weak and drowsy everyday. She is in the hospital and they have her on all kinds of medications. What do I do and where do I turn for help. She needs twenty four hours care, the family cannot afford it, we apply at nursing homes to get her out of the hospital. There waiting list is from two years to six years. Now her lifestyle has change into long hours of sleeps.

My mom will be 88 in July. She is the same way. I think it normal for them to sleep. I do take her for rides several times a week and try to get her to walk with me to the corner. She does climb 22 steps everyday by herself. I have to make sure she eats but I do give her small meals a few times a day when I'm there and I encourage her to do the same when I am not there. This seems to work for keeping her nourished. I also give her ensure and Gatorade. She's still likes her junk food ice cream etc. Doctor said let her eat all she wants

To keep my mother from withdrawing I gave her Lion's Mane Mushroom Extract (from Host Defense). About 4ml per day. I got incredible results even as she had worsening Alzheimers Disease. I wish I could have tried it earlier.

I'm taking my husband to day care at a memory care facility 3 days a week. He sleeps all day and night at home but not at daycare. Boredom? Or just the excitement of having lots going on. Hard to say but the stimulation does seem to help.

My mom is 91 years old. She attends a day care for the elderly, where she is a real go-getter. Always walking around with her walker. She loves the exercises they do in the morning directly following breakfast. Mom is gone all day, Monday through Friday, 9-3:30. When she gets home, she immediately falls asleep. Which is fine with me as I see this as the first chance she's had to relax all day. However, I will wake her for dinner, around 5:30, she'll eat and the next thing I know she's off again. She doesn't wake up until I wake her up for bed, which is about 8:30. I've discussed this with some of the admins at the day care. They said she's such a go-getter all day, it's like having a 9-5 job for her. She's always pleasant and they always bring the new clients to my mom for 'orientation'. I just worry. It just seems that dinner breaks up her sleep for the hour it takes her to eat...then we're back to sleep.

Sue627, Your mom is going so much at the day center that she's exhausted when she gets home. Kind of like a kindergartener. It's probably ok as long as she is getting up in the morning. I would be more concerned if she was not being so active and still only wanted to sleep. What are weekends like? Was she always a good sleeper when she was younger?

In any case, at least with Alzheimer's, it is possible for the person to sleep and sleep and sleep towards the end. It does not sound like that's where she is at all.

My dad has done the same thing for the lat two days. His doctor says he is in good health. My dad is so lazy that he was to lay down and eat. I have to fuss at him to get him to set up and eat. You are not alone I am going through the same thing.

Or, people just get old and die.

I am a senior and I am wearing out. I sleep more and can't go on 10 mile hikes like I did.

Doctor can't find anything wrong....just getting worn out.

In accepting that I am getting old I have become much happier.

ThomThumb everyone is different. Look at all those elderly people who keep rocking! It's not impossible. It's different for everyone of us.