Mom is 84, and the dr. and I believe she is in the beginning of dementia. Most of the time, she is right on top of things, but occasionally something will send "red flags" up for me. She also hears "music" at three different places at times, here at my house where she has been living for over 15 months, at her house 200 miles away, and at the hospital in my town and says "you say I need hearing aids and you (me) can't hear that music". If I don't get her up or she doesn't have to get up for an appt. she would sleep 20-21 hours a day. It seems to increase about 1-2 hours per day every year for the past 3-4 years at least. Has anyone else noticed this? She had a sleep study and it just showed restless leg syndrome. She is on meds and then doubled the meds. She says she sleeps more soundly, but to me she sleeps just as much. As a side note, we have an appt. with an elder lawyer for a free consultation in less than 2 weeks. Wish us luck please. Thanks everybody for all of your responses. Sometimes even when it's not my question, it just what I needed to hear!
Are you sure she sleeps all of the time she's in bed? Might she be lying awake thinking of things or even reading or doing puzzles? (I am just trying to distinguish between being in bed 20 hours and sleeping 20 hours.)
Does she seem to be sad or depressed? How is her general demeanor and mood? Does she have activities she likes to do when she is awake?
Has there been a recent trauma or loss in her life?
Sorry I have only questions, but maybe if you flesh out the picture a little someone will recognize a pattern and have a more specific response for you.
You mentioned that your Mom's meds were doubled, or did you mean she is now taking twice as many meds? Say for example, her blood pressure meds were doubled, that would zone her out big time.... I take a bit of adjusting to get my own blood pressure meds to a comfortable doze, without me nodding off.
As for hearing music, that could be anything from a filling in a tooth [very rare] to a hearing aid picking up a music radio station. When my Mom got a new hearing aid she was picking up a talk radio show, with some adjustments it did go away.
On another point, that is strange that your Mom's blood pressure doesn't go up after doing exercises... I would have a cardiologist check that out because just walking up stairs would make everyone's blood pressure go up. Even get a second opinion from another cardiologist.
Does she have a TV in her room? Is there any activity at the house? Even when my mom couldn't walk well any more, she was pretty interested in TV or watching the dog, or us doing things. There was always 'household noise' to keep her awake. :)
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