Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
A
Arimethea33 Asked January 2021

Does anyone have an elderly parent, 88+, that wants to sleep 20+ hours almost every day?

Last 5-6 months been going on here.

Tothill Jan 2021
Report it to your loved one’s doctor and ask for a full physical and lab work. There could be a medical reason or it could just be part of the aging process.

My Dad has always slept more than most people daily naps back when he was in his 40’s, likely before that. Now he sleeps 16+ hours a day, often more. But he still prepares his meals, prior to Covid, did his shopping, and still gets on his exercise bike daily.

If he has an outing, the next day he sleeps more, sometimes the next 2 days.

At almost 92, we do not worry about it, but he is also under the care of doctors, so we know it is age related and health related, ticker troubles.

Grandma1954 Jan 2021
Increased sleeping was one of the signs of decline that Hospice tracked for my Husband.
It is a sign of decline and might qualify your parent for Hospice if you wish that as an option.

ADVERTISEMENT


cwillie Jan 2021
My mom gradually slept more and more towards the end of her life, by the last couple of years she was barely awake except for meals. Of course sleeping so much has consequences, loss of muscle tone leading to loss of mobility as well as a greater possibility of pressure sores. My mom was in the NH at the end of her life because the care she needed was more than I could give her.

MJ1929 Jan 2021
That was my mother, and my dad let her because he couldn't get her to do anything else. After Dad died, I moved her into a memory care facility where sleeping all day wasn't an option, and became clear that she slept all day in part because she was bored and had nothing better to do.

My dad wouldn't push her to do things, but the memory care staff members don't take no for an answer. If she doesn't want to actively participate in something, she's brought out to sit near those who are doing an activity. She was no longer so isolated, and it made a world of difference for her.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter