Why does mom sleep all day some days, then no sleep at all on other days?

My mother was awake the whole entire day, yesterday. Today, she has slept most of the day away. Also, she was fairly talkative yesterday, but today, what little time that she has been awake, she didn't say a word for at least 30 minutes, and when she did speak she had a very hard time getting her words out. Is this end of life symptoms? Scared :(

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No its not the end of life geezz. My mother is 90 and the same way. Your mother must have memory loss. Mine does. It all depends. I used to be able to sleep real easy for me. The past 3 months i can't really sleep much sometimes i do sometimes I don't My sleeping pattern sure changed. My mother is stronger than me.

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Most people, as they age, have some pain from arthritis or other issues. That is often enough to interrupt sleep. Some research suggests that older people just have a harder time sleeping long periods regardless of other issues. You mom could be suffering from depression which can cause people to sleep too little or too much. Also, of course, dementia can interfere with sleep rhythms. I don't feel that this indicates end-of-life issues, but I do think a medical checkup may be in order.
Take care,
Carol

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What does her doctor say? My mother is diagnosed with dementia and does the same thing. I learned from going to local caregiver support group meetings that it's a phase of dementia which passes. But other disorders cause sleepiness, so take advantage of medical resources.

You did the right thing to ask your question in this forum. If you want to be a support to your mother at whatever age or stage of illness she's in, you need to be strong and calm. If you're scared, she'll pick up on that which isn't helpful because elderly people tend to be anxious anyway. Illness and death are part of the normal cycle of life and you'll only cause everybody pain by resisting it. Remember the Serenity Prayer. Amen and blessings to you, mother and everyone involved.

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Have you ever had lazy days when you just felt like laying around? Perhaps that is all that is happening. My mom has dementia and does this all the time so I think she probably wakes up at night and makes up for it during the day. It is normal for a dementia patient.

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sometimes diet can cause sleep problems; I was having sleep problems, 67 years old, tried flexitarian diet (semi vegetarian), no more problem.

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Many dementia patients have sleep disturbance problems both during the condition and near the end so sleeping or not isn't really indicative of anything. The lack of speech or difficulty forming words, same thing, just part of the disease process a different stages.

You will want to keep track of her sleeping difficulties, journaling them or keeping a diary. It could come and go but if it comes more than it goes, it'll be time to talk to the doctor. Sleeping is important for her but also for you if you are a 24/7 care giver because YOU will need your sleep in order to be able to care for her. She may need medication management to make sure she gets enough sleep. I what is typically in the habit of getting work done with my mom was sleeping. In the last two years of her life however, I found it necessary to lay down and rest whenever she was resting so I could be up when she was up.

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Why does mom sleep all day some days, then no sleep at all on other days?

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