MY 84 YR OLD MOTHER HAS HAD ALZHEIMERS FOR ABOUT 6 YRS.RECENTLY SHE HAS BEEN SLEEPING ABOUT 14 TO 18 HRS A DAY.SHE WILL NOT GET OUT OF BED UNTIL EITHER MY FATHER OR I GO TELL 'GET UP' IT TAKE 2 OR MORE TRIPS TO HER BEDROOM TO GET HER UP SHE WILL GET UP,EAT VERY LITTLE,THEN GO BACK TO SLEEP SITTING UP.YESTERDAY SHE GOT UP AT 9AM [BECAUSE MY SISTER CAME OVER] AND WAS IN BED FOR THE NIGHT AT 3PM.SHE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. BUT SIT ON THE COUCH,THE ONLY TIME SHE GETS UP IS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM .I WANT TO CALL HER DOCTOR BUT MY FATHER SAYS THE DOCTOR CANT DO ANYTHING FOR HER.I NEED HELP
We call or visit her at times when we know she will be awake and we encourage her at that point to get up and move around. She will get up for the bathroom, some meals, and loves to watch the news.
Since we can't get inside her head to know what is happening, we do what we can to help and what she can handle on that given day.
You must remember to always be patient with Alzheimer sufferers. They can't help themselves. I have learned to enjoy the moments that my dad is awake. But when all he wants to do is sleep i let him do just that. Of course i will wake him for meals. He will stay awake for coffee and cookies too! Bless his heart.