My husband's Alzheimer's Disease seems to have changed and he is sleeping most of the time. Is this a sign of the last stage?

It can be. Are you alone? Is he at home? Are you in contact with his doctor or Hospice. It may be days yet still. but my grandma slept more and more towards the end...

I AM ALONE WITH HIM BUT MY TWO SONS ARE IN AND OUT EVERY DAY. THIS JUST STARTED TO HAPPEN THIS WEEK. I GET HIM UP AND DRESSED AND GIVE HIM HIS MEDS. AND A BREAKFAST DRINK AND HE WENT BACK TO SLEEP IN HIS CHAIR. HE SPENT MOST OF THE DAY SLEEPING. I FED HIM HIS EVENING MEAL AND SAT HIM ON SOFA AND HE FELL INTO A SLEEP AGAIN.

What does he have? Does his doctor think it is progressing?

I am not personally experienced with Alzheimer. I noted your situation on another post see if any one else can help...

You sound very scared and alone there. Is there an on call nurse you could call, or maybe every a nursing home would have an idea who you could call? Is he on medication, it may wipe him out.

Joan, my father had frontal lobe dementia, he slept a lot at the end. But the end meaning months. I don't know about alzheimer's. Are you doing ok? We're here.

joan , u are not alone . my father sleeps alot . sleep wake up eat bathroom back to sleep and then wakes up eat its same old thing over and over , maybe a little bit of tv shows then dozes right back to sleep . he is 87 yrs old , has had heart attack and strokes , i do believe that it is coming to the end , a long slow one ....
keep comin back and you will feel so much better to have someone to talk to here .
im here .... xoxo

joan, my mom has alzheimer's and she started sleeping a lot like your husband. This started about five months ago, I think, and like others have said, it seems to be a long slow process. Like linda, I keep posting on here so that I can be "with" other people who are going through the same things,or similar things, as I am. good luck.
ssk

It could be. People can get very passive and seem "not there," and sleep during the last stages. However, you should check with his doctor to see if medications are causing this, just as a precaution.
This is hard to watch, I know. Please keep talking to him and holding his hand or touching him, as he likely still has some sense that you are there.
Take care of yourself, too.
Carol

Right, the sense of hearing stays and they can recognize our voices. My mom perks up when she hears me talking or when she hears my brothers or other familiar voices.

Thank you all so much! It has given me much insight.

My mother is 95 and has dementia. she only talks of her childhood. and cant remember what she ate 5 minutes ago, lately she is sleeoing most of the time. Got up at 10:30 today and has slept most of the day? Why? We are thinking of putting her in a home but I feel so guilty about doing this.

My mom is doing the same thing...it just started this week. I dont know if her falling and spending a day in the hospital has weakened her...but before the fall she was up and around alot...

Sleeping more and other changes in sleeping habits are normal for the progression of Alzheimers. But it doesn't necessarily mean he is in the end-stage, but it does mean progression. My husband who has had Alzheimers and other dementias for 17 years, has had periods (months) when it seems he sleeps almost round the clock. Then he will go for a time where he will be more awake for longer periods. The only thing about Alzhimer's disease you can count on is change.

My father is 88 years old, and sleeps all day. He gets up to eat, may watch tv for an hour or so during the day. Bedtime is around 9 every evening. He will not awaken until I get him up. I explained this to his psychiatrist and he said sleep patterns are different for every patient. I am confused because all I read about is that alzheimer's patients do not sleep at night. Does this mean he is nearing death?

I am an only child and I watch my mom since I am disabled. Mom has had alzheimers for a while now and she too, sleeps most of the time. She will occasionally have a period of alertness but it's less frequent now. I look at her and emotionally, it is so hard. She is 90 and I know she had a lot of years with a quality life but I want to do this as long as I possibly can and have time with her and never look back with regrets. I feel for the others in this situation as it takes it's toll on us too. She is the only one who has stuck with me through thick and thin.

MY FATHER IS 80 years old and was a lifetime alcoholic. He has dementia and sleeps a lot these days. He eats and he only drinks small amounts. I just went through 10 years of looking after my grandmother going thru Alzheimer's until her passing 3 years ago. This is an horrible disease and we as caretakers can only hope to make their lives as comfortable as possible.

I know toward the end of my Aunties life she slept a lot, ate very little and had many hallucinations. We cared for her at home diagnosis until end (10 years). I think my Mamma (85 yrs old) is now experiencing dementia/Alzheimer's, being an only child her care has fallen on my shoulders for over 6 years now.Hang in there and draw on the support here and any one who might be able to give you a break, We have to remember to replenish our energy or we will not be able to gibe our loved ones the care they need. Aho ~ White Dove

My loved one has Vascular Dementia mixed with AD. At one time she was sleeping a lot during the day. Often not wanting to get out of bed until after noon. We suspected it was pain causing her to stay in bed and depression due to the pain. She had some fractures from a fall. After she got onto Cymbalta, she stopped sleeping so much. The Memory Unit she is in says she gets up every morning with no problem and stays up and alert until bedtime. Her mood is much improved and she is more engaged. This could change and is likely to change in the future, but for now that medication has improved her quality of life for now.

I am at my wits end my mother has alzhimers she is 87 she starts telling the setters she needs to go to bed arounf 6pm if they let her she is up and keeps me up all ni9ght . I belive she sleeps in her tilt back a lot durning the day this week she has started not wanting to get up she sets for hrs it is like pulling teeth all day long . I am worried she has gone into late stage .I work 70 hrs a week i provide for her we have been liveing together for the last 25 yrs when she had her 1st stroke she has become my life if i am not working i am with her She goes on all vacations with me loves to get out . I cant seam to get her movated this time to go any were she cusses me all the time from when i get her up till i put her to bed . She dont know me and says hurtful things like i dont care i hit her i am mean I have care givers for her when i am gone it is just so hard to see her like this she does not take meds for alshimers as her kedneys are to bad the doc does not want her on any I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO HER OR DO FOR HER SHE

My husband has frontal lobe dementia - he can do less and sleeps about 17 hours a day. He had a sudden on set in May 2013 after extreme emotional situation . he is74

I would like to hear from anyone caring for a patient with frontal lobe demetia

I would like to hear from anyone caring for a patient with frontal lobe dementia

Thank you

I was told my husband had Alzheimer's in March of this year! I don't understand exactly what it is, I know they forget things! He sleeps a lot himself, does not carry conversation any longer with me are others. Was told he needs to be put in a memory home are nursing home. I feel he should stay with me until he forgets me. How long does one live with Alzheimer's?

To answer your last question first, people can live from a few months to 20 years after diagnosis but 6 to 8 years is most common.

I think that the first thing you should do is go to the Alzheimer's Association website at alz.org and become as educated about the disease as possible, starting with their brain tour. If you have an Alzheimer's organization in your community, get in touch with them, too.

Alzheimer’s caregiving is a long road and can be very frustrating. The more you know and the more support you get from people who've been in your shoes, the better off you'll be.

Please keep coming back here for emotional support and practical information from others who care for their loved one with AD.

Please start right away taking care of yourself. Self-care isn't selfish - it's vital to make it for the long-run.
Carol

Please call your husband's doctor and let them know about the change in his condition.

My Father just started sleeping for a couple of days this week and then suddenly waking up . Dressing, shaving, eating, talking with others at his care facility. Our family is very close, so we are there a lot. My sister thinks he is putting our lives and wellness together. As an Italian DAD, he has always ruled!!

Has anyone else seen their loved ones do the sleep thing and not eat for a couple of days and then just wake up. speech a little different, doesn't remember being asleep? But pretty much normal. My Dad has only been there for 1 year.. We play cards, have lunch, walk outside? WTH!!!

I do not see post from 2015 so I guess this goodbye :)

Much depends on your dad's stage of dementia. If he's been doing okay, maybe he just had a setback and needed extra sleep. The body can demand sleep when we are fighting off an infection.

If he has been going downhill, this could be a short term rally potentially signalling death. A rally shortly before death is quite common.

I'm hoping your situation is the former and that he is going to be fine.
Take care,
Carol

My mom is 88 and she has started sleeping a lot. Some days she is alert but others she sleeps most of the day. She gets very irritable when you try to wake her. She falls to sleep at the table we continue to wake her to eat, as soon as she sits she falls asleep.. . This is a horrible thing. I am so sad to see this. Are there any suggestions for the sleeping.