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Beethere Asked January 2019

Mom with dementia basically physically ok, seems to want to sleep a lot. Is that normal?

She has run out of activities that she enjoys (no more reading, handicrafts) eyesight has declined, doesn’t really watch (or follow?) tv programs anymore. Both at a social day program and when at home, she closes her eyes and naps or sleeps when she sits down. No trouble sleeping at night. She looks tired and worn out. Doc ruled out depression. I am wondering how to provide quality of life with so few activities to do and if the sleeping a lot is “normal.”

Beethere Jan 2019
Cwillie. Bp meds started a while ago But I think the tired started before that.

Beethere Jan 2019
A lot is that she dozes when she sits down and throughout the day. Maybe I’m just not used to her not being so active.
cwillie Jan 2019
Is she taking any different meds?

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cwillie Jan 2019
Define "a lot", that means different things to different people.

Older people tend to nap, dozing through the news or the movie is so common it's a stereotype. As the body and mind get frailer it takes more energy just to get through the day. They are also likely not eating as well as they used to and taking multiple medications that can cause drowsiness. Often their sleep at night is less restful as well because of pain, the need to get up to go to the bathroom or other sleep disturbances. By the end of my mom's life she was sleeping much more than she was awake, even when I managed to get her headphones to listen to or she went to the music programs at her nursing home she usually slept through them.

vali53 Jan 2019
I have the same issues with my 88 yo mom. Eyesight too poor to read for long, seems short on comprehension at times, doesn't really follow the shows she watches. Sleeps A LOT. Says she's not bored or depressed. When I walk in her room and she's asleep, swears she wasn't. I would like some answers also, if anyone out there knows.

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