My 90 year old mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
My current concern is HOW MUCH she's been sleeping. She's sleeping more than she's awake! MOST of the time she'll sleep anywhere from 18-20 hours a day!
What is this a sign of. Should I start preparing myself for her death? PLEASE, can anyone tell me how I should deal with this?
Thank you, in advance, for ANY answer someone might have!
Dad easily sleeps 18 hours day. He sleeps for 12 hours a night and then has multiple naps each day. If he has an appointment or activity one day it takes him two days to recover his energy. Dad has had this sleep pattern for years.
https://www.alzheimers.net/stages-of-alzheimers-disease/
The later stages of Alzheimer's normally tend to bring a lot of anxiety and confusion, not to mention agitation and other unpleasant behaviors for all concerned. If your mother is sleeping a lot, then she's peaceful, which is a huge blessing. Please interpret it as a blessing and allow your mother to get the rest she needs and wants.
You may want to get your mother a hospice evaluation, depending on where you think she's at in the process of the disease. Her doctor can order an evaluation if s/he is on the same page with you. Alzheimer's is considered a terminal illness and qualifies for in home hospice care under Medicare guidelines.
Wishing you all the best.
She blew a fuse when the home health aid came to give her a shower, then refused to take her pills, going so far as to taking one tiny pill from her mouth and throwing it across the room! THEN, to top it all off, she became combative and actually HIT ME!!!
She really tested my patience to my absolute END!!! BUT, in the end, I actually ended up in her bed and just holding/hugging her for the longest time!
VERY confusing and terribly exhausting!!!