My mother sleeps for long periods of time, ie: 18 hrs + falling asleep in her chair. Does this seem normal? She is 91 with dementia for 10 yrs. She has worn her rotator cuffs in her shoulders away so she has constant back and shoulder pain. Otherwise healthy as a horse. She gets sundowners and hallucinates at night. Is this something that someone else has seen? Do I continue to let her sleep? Gotta be careful how I wake her up. Will take your head off if you know what I mean.
This is one of the indicators that Hospice uses to document decline for re-certification.
There is a great pamphlet that you can read on line called Crossing the Creek and it explains in a great way why the increased sleeping.
The last month or so it was not uncommon for my Husband to sleep 20 to 22 hours, awake enough to have a bit to eat or drink, until he stopped eating and drinking. He would be awake for a sponge bath or for a brief change.
Let her rest, this is her time schedule now. I know it is hard to plan your life around someones sleep wake schedule.
Is mom on Hospice? They can also help answer some of the other questions that will come up as she nears the end of her life.
Thanks for the input.
By administering small carefully chosen doses of supplements and medications, she has kept my LO, who was sleeping too long during the day, and not enough at night, and not eating well, BOTH comfortable and also functioning at her best levels.
I was also getting lots (AND LOTS) of protest when I’d try to waken her, now more often awake when I get to the facility, and also looking forward to her favorite dinners and eating more.