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Major shift in sleep

jtucker19
jtucker19 Member Posts: 5
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in Caring for a Parent

Usually my Mom takes a long nap in the afternoon and falls asleep on the couch while we're watching tv by 7 or 8pm. The past week she's been napping morning and night, still waking for meals. She seems very confused with general conversation, inability to demonstrate any logic. She's been diagnosed with mixed vascular, alzheimer's about a year ago and as far as we knew she was early stage 5. This week seems to be another decline including sleeping 15-18 hours a day, eating less, super sloppy eating, choking a few times this week. Looking for feedback on progression and if there's anything else we should be doing. She has her annual memory care assessment in Feb., as well as primary, and cardio.

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  • terei
    terei Member Posts: 868
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    I would think this is typical progression and could wait til her assessment. I would be making notes for the MD about your observations

  • jtucker19
    jtucker19 Member Posts: 5
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    Thank you, I document everything just to follow the progression.

  • H1235
    H1235 Member Posts: 1,801
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    Since you are kind of new here I will attach a staging tool, just in case you haven’t seen it yet.

    Tam-Cummings-LLC-Handouts (2).pdf
  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 3,249
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    based on your list of behaviors like eating less and choking, would ask for a hospice evaluation. In the later stages swallowing issues are common and she could aspirate. Please don’t wait. I waited too long to contact hospice. I thought I had more time. Hospice will reevaluate her every 6 months.

  • jtucker19
    jtucker19 Member Posts: 5
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262671#Comment_262671

    Thank you for this. I'd say that according to this she's entering stage 6. I made the assumption that it was more inability to dress self at all and total incontinence but maybe not. I think I'll call the Adler Center where she is seen to run a couple of questions by them.

  • jtucker19
    jtucker19 Member Posts: 5
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    I'm honestly not sure how I'd do this since my Mom doesn't even understand that she has Alzheimer's. She knows that she has dementia (vascular and AZ) but will absolutely panic if we us the word Alzheimer's let alone hospice. We just went through hospice last Christmas when my Dad was dying and unfortunately they weren't much use until the last two weeks. It may have been the agency that was contracted though.

  • ​fesk
    ​fesk Member Posts: 536
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    edited January 5

    I would recommend having her seen by a physician to see if there is an underlying medical cause for the change. She could have a urinary tract infection or another infection that is causing the increased sleepiness. Increased sleepiness or not being alert when eating can cause the eating issues you mentioned. Infections also increase confusion. If medical issues are ruled out, you will then know it's progression.

  • SDianeL
    SDianeL Member Posts: 3,249
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    https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262717#Comment_262717

    no need to discuss Alzheimer’s with her. Do you have DPOA? Medical POA? I would try another hospice agency. Maybe ask the doctor for a referral to a better one? You don’t have to tell her it’s hospice. Just nurses the doctor ordered coming to check on her. Fib if you must. Ask the doctor to back you up with the fib.

  • jtucker19
    jtucker19 Member Posts: 5
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    We have a nurse coming this weekend. I have DPOA and Medical so I'm good there. I think at this point we just have to see this person is here to see you, no discussion. :(

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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