How much sleeping is "too much"

cb4jb · June 11

Hi, new to this community and have many questions, but the one that's top of mind today is that my DH, who was diagnosed with VD but also elevated levels of Alzheimer's last summer, seems to be slipping away faster all the time. He's now very weak and wants to sleep almost all the time. We've been letting him eat breakfast in his room, come out just long enough for lunch, and then the caregiver gets him up about 4 for some "exercises" and supper before going back to bed by 6:30. Do we need to insist he wake up more? He's not interested in anything, gets frustrated with speech, and has fallen 3 times. (We now have more caretakers and a bed alert to help with that.) I wish we could still have some fun together…

Chris20cm · June 11

For years I have managed DW's sleep schedule, waking her at 8:00 am so she wouldn't sleep too long and not want an afternoon nap, waking her up from naps so she wouldn't sleep or she would go to bed too late at night. Mostly it has worked well, but now I think I am going to quit over-managing. If her body and mind want to sleep, I should leave her alone I guess.

Every person is different and there's so darn much trial and error in dementia caregiving.

Chance Rider · June 11

I also used to try to manage my husband’s sleep, mostly to avoid him napping too much during the day. Now, in stage 5 I just let him nap/sleep whenever. He seems to take at least 3 one hour long naps a day. I don’t know for sure since he has his own room and aside from peeking in from time to time I leave him to sleep. I told his neurologist and GeriPACT doctor about his sleeping and napping and they weren’t concerned. I figure his brain needs rest. Plus, it gives me a bit of a break.

Sweetwater · June 11

I let my LO sleep as much as he wanted.

janeedee · June 11

I also leave DH sleep. Has VD and Alz. Whenever it has been much more sleep than usual, it was always a UTI. Amazon has testing strips so you can test at home before calling Dr.

blacksparky · June 11

I too just let my DW sleep as much as she wants during the day. So far it doesn’t matter if she naps or doesn’t nap, she still goes to bed around 8:00pm and sleeps to at least 5:30am. I take her daily naps as a respite for me.

BPS · June 11

A few years ago I was concerned about my wifes sleeping. She would sometimes sleep 30 hours straight only getting up to go to the bathroom and when I would wake her to eat or drink something. It wasn't all the time but it concerned me, so I talked to her doctor and he said that as long as we were both ok with it and she was getting food and drink that it was not hurting her. She went through spells like that for a couple of years. Now she is in stage 7 and sleeps 20 or more hours a day many days. I think that if that is what they want to do and it is not causing a problem then let them.

cb4jb · June 11

Thanks, all—I'm not sure I COULD keep him up much longer than he wants, but he still seems so restless at night. We're having a big family lunch for Father's Day and family June birthdays on Sunday, so fingers crossed we'll at least have some time all together. I've been studying some today—I think he's about level 6.5 at this stage. A lot of changes in the last 2 months, and I think he's "given up." It's so sad to watch and have it be beyond my ability to help.

How much sleeping is "too much"

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