Is it common for patients with dementia to sleep 14 or more hours in a day?

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Is it common for patients with dementia to sleep 14 or more hours in a day?

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My 83 year old spouse has been diagnosed with dementia for a year now although he has been progressively going downhill for 4 yrs. He has lost all zest for life, not interested in gardening or travel which he loved previously. In the last 6 months he sleeps all night and until 4 or 5 in the afternoon. The doctor says let him sleep. But is this just a normal progression of the disease? And how do I handle the loneliness?

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It must be “normal” if there can be such a description of someone with dementia. We get a lot of questions here from people who say their loved ones are nearly catatonic. My mother was often asleep when I’d come to visit. And as her dementia progresses, she’d climb into bed and ask me to leave so she could sleep.

I’m sure if it could be helped, his doctor would prescribe meds for him. I wonder if he’s depressed by what’s happening to him? If he’s in a deep sleep and you woke him up, he would have a hard time with it.

How do you deal? Unfortunately for us, we’re from the eras when wives had no lives independent of their husbands. We relied on them for entertainment and companionship. When they’re incapacitated, so are we. My husband is bedridden and its almost impossible to get him up and out, so sadly, we don’t try. I’m on my own for all holidays and get-together. I go alone. I call myself a “pseudo-widow”. It’s difficult now with my grands in school and one moving 45 minutes away soon, but I’ve devoted myself to them. If your husband is ok alone for a while, try volunteering for an organization meaningful to you. Getting out and among people is the biggest help.

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I read about people who have dementia sleeping a lot, but, I'm not sure if it's normal progression or depression. Sleep disorders are also quite common with dementia. Does his doctor treat a lot of people with dementia? Has he seen a geriatric psychiatrist?

I know that when my LO was first diagnosed with dementia at age 62, she was sleeping most all day and night. She was evaluated and treated for anxiety and depression. She cried a lot when she was awake. The daily meds really helped a lot and she started staying awake all day. Her depression left and her anxiety was greatly reduced. She has had a few good years of being able to get around in her wheelchair, engage in activities, enjoy visits, etc. since that time, so, I'm glad we treated her. Now she takes a short nap in the afternoon. I'd discuss it with his doctor and explore options.

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My late mom did the same thing started when she was in late 70s or early 80s. My late dad used to be upset with my mom's sleeping habits. However, my dad did the same thing when he was 88. It was ironic that he got upset with himself because he used to take 30 mins naps and he said "I am acting like Mom now!". Then, each of them got the lost track of time when they slept 14 to 19 hours a day. Both of them got confused after they woke up. Actually, with Dad, we didn’t know that he was dying at 90 from advanced lungs cancer because he used to smoke every day. Mom had dementia.

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doctors will give out psychotropics like candy..but remember drugs have side effects including increased risk for falling and confusion. Have you tried an exercise program? I take my mom for walks daily. It's really the only time she "comes alive" because I been doing it daily for 4 years. Her Alzheimer's is so bad she needs a specialized walker that cost me $659 to keep her back straight. She can walk nearly a half mile with it. It's unreal. Did not happen overnight. when I first started she could only go a few feet. It took about 2 years to get her to tolerate a quarter of a mile. now she can go further. Rest of the day she's like a slug. but it was worth every cent. BUT if I did not walk her she would have been totally bedridden or dead years ago. Remember the more inactive they are, the worse mobility issues become. Keep them moving! YES it is a pain taking her to the park -- but overall it makes her care easier because I can still walk her to the toilet (with assistance) and she will brush her teeth, floss and even use a water pic (amazing she can do that since her Alzheimer's is severe). so I never had the need to use psychotropics or narcotics due to exercise. when I walk her she totally changes like comes alive. when back at home she reverts back.

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I agree with the walking, but I am SO conflicted with the idea of trying to extend life with exercise. Honestly, I wish my mother would pass away... she is not happy, and she is taking my dad down this horrible dark path with her. I'm not at all sure he will 'chose to live' and be happy again without her, but there is no way he's going to be happy going through this for years more with her either. I do agree with keeping her 'able bodied' enough to safely get to the toilet and move around without being so weak and lacking of balance that it becomes a series of falls and broken bones, more misery to pile on the existing misery. So hard.

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I have had the same problem but I decided to get him out of bed at least once or twice during the day. He doesn't fight me on this but when he gets up, he wants to go back to bed in 15 mins. I try to distract him by turning on the TV music channel and I can get him to stay up at least one hour. As far as the loneliness, I read a lot, watch TV and turn on my computer and when I get bored with all of that, I clean house or bake. And now my new pastime, is researching older people on the internet who are challenging themselves in exercise, volunteering, traveling at a site called "Growing Bolder", which give inspirational stories of seniors who are living life to the fullest well into their 90's and 100's. Just researching the lives of these seniors, gives me hope for the future. Hang in there.

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Thank you for the great ideas. I appreciate so much your response.

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This is a normal progression.
Towards the end of my Husbands life he was sleeping probably 20 to 23 hours a day.
Do you have Hospice in to help you? They were a great help to me. The CNA that came 3 times a week helped me shower him, the last week she did bed baths. I got the supplies and equipment I needed. Also with Hospice you can get a volunteer that will come in so you can get out or you can sit and talk to the volunteer so you can get some socialization.
Do you belong to a support group? They can be very helpful.

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My 90 year old mother with debilitating dementia often sleeps 24+ hours straight. This concerns me very much because she is so inactive, throws her medication schedule out of whack, and because she hasn't eaten causes her to be weak and more hallucinatory than ever. Her doctor does not seem very concerned even after I told my concerns about going so long without food. She prescribed Mirtazapine which is an anti-depressant and still causes her to sleep and is supposed to increase her appetite. When I do wake her, it takes a few minutes to rouse her but once up she does seem to be more alert and easy-going. I can't really say it has helped her appetite, in fact she has become more picky about everything I prepare for her. Whenever I ask her why she won't get up and sleeps so long, she answers that she has nothing else to do so why not just stay in bed. I get that, it is terrible to have dementia and be unable to communicate or understand what is going on around you. She refuses to go to day care or respite activities. I have things I need to do and I feel uncomfortable leaving her in bed when I go out, even for a short period of time. If she is up and alert, I can usually leave her alone for a few hours.

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Makes it easier for the doctor, plus she probably feels her time is short and is subtly trying to push you into getting her into hospice or palliative care.

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If I'm lucky my mother(92) will sleep. She just went through 2 days of not sleeping and becoming more confused and agitated with each hour. She was talking non-stop with imaginary people in the bedroom. When I went into the bedroom she didn't acknowledge me, she only wanted to talk to the other people. She started arguing with them because they weren't answering her. About half the time she talks gibberish and otherwise talks about things that have no basis in reality; things she's done or places she's been that aren't true. When she sleeps she is a different person. Not great, but at least she recognizes I am there. She is also deaf and hasn't recognized me as her son for over 4 years. She has been sleeping for the past 12 hours. I hope she is better when she wakes up. I would like to know how long she can live like this. It is a cruel way to end one's life. I wouldn't want it for myself.

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Yes, horrible way to go.

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This is common as the disease progresses. I have seen over 36 hours in bed at a stretch with pit stops. I think that it may be an unconscious escape mechanism from what daily life has become--boring. I wonder if dreams aren't emotional substitutes for the cognitive difficulties presented by daily life. My question is, why would you want him to stay awake?

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I agree with you. I don't understand why people want them to keep awake. I feel like I am a weird person or something. My hubby is sitting more and more just watching TV. I don't know if he is absorbing what he is seeing or not. But, if he is comfortable, why would I want to extend his confusion, and sadness? What is the purpose? He will never be "normal" again, why would I keep trying to get him to do normal things?

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If I get dementia, please let me sleep in peace. It is a good way to pass the time when I am no longer able to do my favorite things or read or understand TV. I don't want to smile or eat to make your day. Go get a hobby and let me sleep my life away. Amen

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Thank you for putting my thoughts into words. I have thought that many times but keep thinking I "should" be making his life more but maybe sleep is what makes him peaceful. Thank you

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Why does anyone want to extend the life of someone with advanced dementia? Probably some selfish reason like feeling needed, making up for not being there before?

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I wonder this same question. My mother has no quality of life. She has severely limited mental/cognitive ability, severely limited physical ability. She is in bed all the time except when I take her to the bathroom. She is not able to do anything functional. She doesn't know I'm her son or that she is living in her own house. She thinks the people she has known who have died are still alive. She keeps wanting to go 'home.' She had a massive stroke in 2014 which caused extensive brain damage, but the doctors still thought it was right to install a pacemaker 3 months later. The pacemaker is essentially the only reason she is still alive. I have a hard time resolving in my mind the logic of keeping someone alive by artificial means when otherwise they have no functional life.

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I am sorry that you are going through this. I am sorry that the ill person is going through this. It's an awful way to "exist". I want my mil to SLEEP at night when you are supposed to sleep, but, sadly, she doesn't sleep at night, or, it seems to me, at all when you should. I'm sorry that I can not offer you the answers you are seeking. We just do the best we can. And sometimes, that doesn't feel like enough. And sometimes, it seems to me, we are going through what they are going through.

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You know, Sunshine, I was thinking about your post and I remembered when I visited my mother in the nursing home, there was a resident there who, like your husband, spent 90% of her time asleep. The nurse would actually go in and wake her. I never watched so I don’t think she shook her or anything, but she used a loud, commanding voice and the woman did wake up. The nurse woke her for meals and for some activities. Even if she just sat there and watched, she did stay awake. Someone brought her a round plastic knitting loom and after a while, she was so interested in doing that, she slept less and less.

Maybe try waking him up. You’d have to be relentless like the nurse, but it might work.

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My Mother was taking risperdone and namenda and she slept all the time. All day. I had to wake her for meals, She had a good appetite. Then she was awake most the night. I felt she was safe when she was sleeping. She had LBD. It is horrible to see your Mother like that. All you can do is try to make it as ok as you can for her and keep her safe.

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My husband w 12 yrs of alz that we know of, sleeps 14 +hrs too. Like you Dr said what's wrong with sleep. He may get up at 8 or 10 & I give him breakfast & he goes back to bed. He is quite alert when awake & I give him his dot to dot or puzzles (100 pc or less]. If they like it let him sleep. They have fewer & fewer joys in life. If it was me I wouldn't want his choices but my choices if I wanted to sleep. I have a caregiver come in when I want to go & do something. He may be asleep the whole time but never alone. Just love them & constantly tell them, you are safe & someone will always be with you. Think of 5 yr old wakes & no one home. Scared to death. That's
Why never alone. You can do it. Get in a support group that shares their lives you can relate to. We're all in the same boat or have been. Read, read &read about alz so you will be prepared. Creating Moments of Joy, bk, online Teepa Snow, Understanding the Dementia Experience. We are here to hear you. God Bless

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Is it common for patients with dementia to sleep 14 or more hours in a day?

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