An empty bed in darkness

Is it typical for people with dementia to sleep a lot during the day?

People with dementia, especially those in the later stages, can often spend a lot of time sleeping. This can sometimes be worrying for carers, friends and family. Find out why a person with dementia might sleep more than an average person of their age.

It is quite common for a person with dementia, especially in the later stages, to spend a lot of their time sleeping – both during the day and night. This can sometimes be distressing for the person’s family and friends, as they may worry that something is wrong. 

Sleeping more and more is a common feature of later-stage dementia. As the disease progresses, the damage to a person’s brain becomes more extensive and they gradually become weaker and frailer over time.

As a result, a person with dementia may find it quite exhausting to do relatively simple tasks like communicating, eating or trying to understand what is going on around them. This can make the person sleep more during the day as their symptoms become more severe. 

Some medications may contribute to sleepiness. These include some antipsychotics, antidepressants, antihistamines and of course sleeping pills.

Sleeping disorders unrelated to dementia, such as having breathing that occasionally stops during sleep (known as ‘apnoea’), can also contribute to sleeping for longer. 

What should I do if a person with dementia is sleeping a lot? 

If the person is in the later stages of dementia and they have gradually started sleeping more and more, it is likely to be due to the dementia progressing.  

However, if the excessive sleeping has started more suddenly, or the person doesn’t seem well in other ways, it may have another cause.  

If this is the case you should speak to the GP, to rule out any infections or conditions that could be affecting the person's sleep. It may also be worth asking for a medication review with the GP or speaking to a pharmacist as medication can cause a range of side effects. 

Providing the person doesn’t appear to be uncomfortable or distressed, then sleeping more during the day isn’t normally a reason to be worried.

However, if a person is lying down in bed and asleep for most of the time they will need to be looked after to make sure they don’t develop any physical health problems. This sort of care is normally done by a health or social care professional in a care home or hospice. If the person is still living at home though, then it’s important to get advice from your GP or nurse on how best to do this.

Why does dementia affect sleep? 

Problems with sleep are very common for people with dementia. They can include: 

  • sleeping during the day and being awake and restless during the night 
  • becoming disorientated in the dark if they wake up to use the toilet 
  • waking up more often and staying awake longer during the night 
  • getting up in the early hours and thinking it’s day time or time to go to work (disorientation in time) 
  • not being able to tell the difference between night and day. 

Nobody completely understands why dementia affects sleeping patterns. For some people, it may be that their internal ‘biological clock’, which judges what time it is, becomes damaged so the person starts to feel sleepy at the wrong time of day.

There are also other parts of the brain which control whether or not we stay awake, and these may also not work properly if they become damaged.  

Sometimes a person with dementia might completely reverse their normal sleep pattern, staying up all night and then sleeping all day. 

Sleep and dementia

It's common for people with dementia, especially in the later stages, to spend a lot of their time sleeping

Does quality of sleep matter for people with dementia? 

The quality of a person's sleep gradually deteriorates as they get older. They tend to get less deep or ‘slow-wave’ sleep, which helps to keep the brain healthy and refreshed. 

Even though a person with dementia may end up sleeping more than a typical person of their age – even as much as 14–15 hours a day – it is unlikely to all be good quality sleep. 

Sleeping a lot can also be influenced by people’s sleeping patterns before they had dementia, as some people need more sleep than others. 

Sleep for people who have dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease 

The type of dementia you have can affect your sleep.

People who have dementia caused by Lewy body disease, such as Parkinsons’ disease (PD) or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are often sleepy by day but have very restless and disturbed nights. They can suffer from confusion, nightmares and hallucinations. Insomnia, sleep apnoea (breathing difficulties) and restless legs are common symptoms. 

A person affected with these types of dementia may often unknowingly ‘act’ out their dreams by shouting and moving around in bed.

They can even cause injury to themselves and/or their sleeping partner. This is called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder or RBD, and tends to happen from the earliest stages of the disease onwards.

This can be exhausting and often leaves the person feeling like they haven’t slept at all, so they are very tired and sleepy during the day.

It can be hard to stay awake during the day after a poor night’s sleep but, if possible, it’s best to try to limit sleep during the day to small bursts or ‘catnaps’. Otherwise the person’s body clock can become very confused and this makes sleeping well during the night even harder.

Read more about sleep and dementia

Learn more about how dementia can affect sleeping patterns, as well as our tips for healthy sleep.

Sleep and dementia

This article was first published in 2019. It was most recently updated on 29 January 2024.

755 comments

My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 8 years ago. He has been in a hospital bed at home for 4 years now and has drastically deteriorated over the past year. He hasn't spoken for 4 years and has carers 4 times a day. He spends a lot of time sleeping but has only recently started struggling to eat. He's 83 and my mum's 81. My mum has a carer in the morning to help her shower and get dressed. My dad's illness has had a massive impact on my mums health and she now struggles to do the simplest things. I cook, clean and shop for them. My mum is struggling with the stairs and would benefit from a stair lift. This is a terrible illness and it takes a toll on everyone involved. My mum and I spent years toiletting him, washing him, etc. My mum can hardly was from one room to the other now due to all the lifting. There needs to be more help for the families of people with Alzheimer's.

I care for my husbands cousin because noone else in the family was prepared to care for him.
He was diagnosed with alcohol induced Dementia but having spoken to the nurse on the Dementia helpline we feel that there is possibly another form of Dementia going on, especially as he has been alcohol free for over 3yrs now.
Like many of you, recently, he has started sleeping for around 21hrs daily.
He tends to sleep ok during the night, although he can get up 3/4 times to go to the toilet. However, he doesn't appear to actually go to the toilet. It's almost as if he is waking up, forgetting what he was going to do & guessing that he must have wanted the toilet, if this makes sense.
He does have Prostrate Cancer & the specialist has told us that although he will never be free if the Cancer, it is likely that the Dementia will kill him before the Cancer does.
I worry that he may not have long left.
As I travel 60 miles most days to care for him, I do not want him to die alone.
I have done an end of life plan with him where he has said that he would like me to be with him at the end.
For me, the difficulty is the not knowing if the rapid deterioration in his mobility & memory along with the constant sleeping is the beginning of the end.
I have taken great comfort & support from reading all your stories & the impact that this horrendous disease has on our loved ones.
It's good to know that I am not alone.
Thank you for sharing your concerns & stories.

God Bless you for taking care of your husbands cousin.

It was impossible for me to believe the diagnosis: my husband - a Ph.d Nuclear Physicist and author - was, at age 85, suffering from Alzheimer's Disease! During the ten years since that fateful day, I have observed, with great sadness, the downward spiral of his thinking process, plus physical symptoms....like incontinence, walking difficulty, and garbled speech

Reading about your husband reminds of my mum.She’s had Alzheimer’s diease for the last 8 years and I feel there is very little support available.It’s like being on emotional rollercoaster.Just before Covid was announced my mum started to have hallucinations and my elderly dad couldn’t manage.We got a bed in a nursing home for 2 weeks to give us a chance to get help.Then Covid happened and my mum has been in the nursing home since. I’m grateful she’s alive and with us but am struggling as she wants to go home. I want to bring her home but wonder could I manage as her nursing care needs have increased and I’m working full time.It’s so hard as there is very little help in the community for families with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s or a dementia diagnosis.

This reminds me so much of my late mother was in a care home for 8 years. because we were all working. She was afriaid and always wanted to come home. I often felt that the more my mother's condition deteriorated the less kind care she received. A loved one with Alzheimer's should be with people who know and love them. If I was in a position to have my mother under my roof with carers who could work day and night shifts I would have had my mother with me to the end. To this day I have remorse because I was not there even in the last 2 years. My mother recognized me the day before she passed away. It was heartbreaking.

We're really sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. Please do call 0333 150 3456 to speak with one of our expert dementia advisers for support. They're available seven days a week - opening hours here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line
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Alzheimer's Society blog team

I am in the same position as you were not believing my husband’s symptoms, and am now remorseful that I often treated his symptoms as though he was doing things deliberately. It had finally sunk in that I must be more patient and understanding but I am depressed myself and feel so hopeless.

Hi Sonterra,

Please know you can call our Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456 if you need someone to talk to. Our trained dementia advisers will listen to your situation and offer advice and support. More details of the support line (including opening hours) are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line

You might also benefit from connecting with other people affected by dementia within our online community, Talking Point. Here, carers and other people affected by dementia share stories, advice, and offer support to others who may be going through similar situations. You can have a browse of other people's experiences, or sign up for free here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-talking-point-our-on…

We hope this helps.

Alzheimer's Society blog team

My husband has dementia I think with my outstanding care by feeding him good food all
Ways dinners every day the doctor said hehas had it four years but it has become worse INTHE last two year
HEIS A VERY PEACEFUL PERSON WE HAVE BEEN WED 67 YEARS HE IS 87 sleeps a loti care for him so well at the. Cost of my own health I feel like I am caving in with the stress I am suffering my self I am severly disabledi have carers twice a day for medication and to help cook. Meals every thing is pay up Is the any free support that would help me and of cause. Support. Him i am bottled up with stress and just DONT know and feel the life I. Have is like living. In a cage DONT go out of the house. For months on end and now I am 85 PEOPLE TO TALK all my friends. Have departed

Hello Edna. Thank you for getting in touch.

We would strongly recommend speaking with one of our dementia advisers by calling the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. This is a great way to get dementia information, support and advice specific to your situation. (More information about the support line, including opening times, can be found here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line)

Seeking support from the care system can be daunting, particularly for people living with dementia and carers who face many other daily challenges. We have guidance to help you navigate this complex process, including where to go for further help and information: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/blog/how-to-navigate-social-care-system-d…

Lastly, you may benefit from talking with other people affected by dementia within our online community, Talking Point. Feel free to browse and read others' experiences, or create an account to reply and connect with others. You may find similar situations to your husband's shared there: https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/

Please do call the support line on 0333 150 3456 if you need to speak with someone about this, Edna.

We hope this is useful.

Alzheimer's Society blog team

Hello Edna
I care for my 88 yr old Dad I’m home all time and I understand what your going through
Can your family come help out
I wish you were in New Jersey I would come and visit
If you wish to talk contact me please I’m lonely 😞

Erica, you might like to talk with other people affected by dementia in our online community, Talking Point. Feel free to browse and read others' experiences, or create an account to reply and connect with others. You may find similar situations to your dad's shared there: https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/

Wishing you all the best, Erica.

Alzheimer's Society blog team

Hi Erica,
I've been caring for my 85 year old father with dementia for almost 7 years. I understand your loneliness and isolation very well. It's been very difficult. If you would like to talk, my name Missy. My email address is [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you!

Hi Erica I feel for what you and Edna are going through as I care for my mother and it would be great to catch up with you and compare stay well Iren

Hello Erica! Read about you caring for for your dad. My wife has dementia. I have been caring for her about 8 years.. I find that soothing music on is calming for her I try to be in always compassiote toward her. Take care of yourself..

Hello Edna
I am so sorry that you are not getting the support you need and deserve. Are you in touch with your Local Authority Social Services department? They have a duty to assess both your husband’s needs and your needs as a carer. They can help you to find day care or respite care so that you can have a break. Dementia Friends offer telephone calls to support you, as do Admiral Nurses.
I hope you are able to access these services. If you have any daughters/sons/relatives or neighbours to help you get online, the internet is a great source of information.
Best wishes.

Sending blessings I know how you feel I have been taking care of Mom same way for so long w the help of my boys. I understand you fully praying God send you some angels that He send us both angels. I pray someone honest can come and help and just keep you company. xoxo God sees all.

Hi Edna. I have been caring for my father in my home for past 2.5 years as well as my severely autistic son as a single mom. I completely understand the stress and loneliness you are experiencing. I have two brothers who are not at all involved because they say its too painful. I hope you are able to find some respite soon.

I am very sorry about your husband it’s the hardest thing to see them slipping away , get I touch with church maybe some one will give you a hands to go out the house for fue hours once a week or Alzheimer’s Organization maybe they can help

My husband's had dementia for a while now but now all he does is sleep he doesn't eat I've had him for 41 years can anybody tell me if his end is near . Thank you

Hi Gina,

We'd recommend speaking with one of our dementia advisers by calling the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. They will be able to provide you with dementia information and advice specific to you and your husband's situation. (More information about the support line, including opening times, here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line)

It also sounds like you might benefit from talking with other people affected by dementia within our online community, Talking Point. Feel free to browse and read others' experiences, or you can create an account to reply and connect with others who may be going through a similar situation: https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/

We hope this helps, Gina.

Alzheimer's Society blog team

My wife is in bed 16 hrs per day .she is very confused and forgetful she is 80 yrs old we have been married for 48 yrs

Hello Vernon,

Thanks for your comment. As the blog mentions, if your wife has gradually started sleeping more and more, it is likely to be due to her dementia progressing. However, if her excessive sleeping has started more suddenly, or she doesn’t seem well in other ways, it may have another cause.

We'd recommend speaking with one of our dementia advisers by calling the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. They will be able to provide you with dementia information and advice specific to your wife's situation. (More information about the support line, including opening times, here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line)

We also have an online community, Talking Point, where carers and other people affected by dementia can share their experiences and receive peer support. This could be a great place for you to receive helpful suggestions from other people who have been in similar situations: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/dementia-talking-point-our-on…

In the meantime, we have information on our website about sleep problems and treatments, with lots of advice you might find useful: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/sle…

We hope this helps, Vernon.

Alzheimer's Society blog team

I was wondering the same as my husband is only 65 and has had it now foe 5 years and he has gotten worse this last year. He sleeps all the time. And just up to eat maybe to go out with me for a bit then sleeps once he gets home!
It’s very difficult to see him like this

I to feel I lost my husband two years ago. He knows me and our children but no communication takes place. I am struggling daily with what Alzheimer’s does to someone you have been with for 49 years. People say I am so strong. If they only new how I feel inside.

I have just taken early retirement from a job I truly love. But after over 2 years of no sleep and trying to take care of my father and work, I can't do it anymore. Financially it's going to be hard on me, but I have no other choice. My father is 85 and not sure what stage he is in. He sleeps all day and is up every 2 hours during the night, confused, wandering and keeps me up all night. I can't go anywhere because I can't leave him alone. I'm doing my best to take care of him, but physically he is much larger than I am and I'm worried what will happen if he falls or if he would ever get to the stage that I've heard so many talk about, angry and violent.
I've tried to reach out to a number of nursing homes, but I cannot get any help. He gets a little over $2,000 a month with SS and his pension and has prepaid burial plots that he bought in 1962, so they say he has too much money to get help with Medicaid. Homes are $6,000 a month, what do they expect me to do?? He worked all his life and we can't get any help, why?? When do we as a country start taking care of our seniors?! I don't know what I'm going to do in the next 3 to 6 months, he's getting worse each day.

Hi, I am going through the same thing with my husband and I have the same concerns as you do. Our income is over the threshold for receiving any financial help and it is just enough to get by on.
Our Estate lawyer told me to meet with a Medicaid Attorney who specializes with situations like this. I talked to him and now I feel much better knowing the route we need to take. There is a way to get financial assistance and requires the lawyer to file certain documents with the government. I would advise you to take a chance and see what the Medicaid attorney has to say with about helping your dad. I am so sorry. I took a lot of classes with the Alzheimer organization zoom classes this past winter. It was excellent. They also advised to get an attorney.

I don’t have any solutions for you, but I am in a similar situation. I am disabled myself and caring for my 80 year old mother. She can’t get any help because she has too much income from my father’s pension, and I can’t get disability because I’m apparently not disabled enough if I can care for her. It’s maddening.

Have you checked all resources in your state or county? I had to go get my dad when his wife died because she was the one that took care of my dad. My dad has Alzheimer’s pretty bad and it is really hard to see my daddy like this. Unfortunately when I got my dad it was right when covid had just broken out. My dad was taking off all the time and we constantly could not leave him alone. I tried to get him into a assisted living facility and they wanted 4700 a month and my dad only got 1700 from social security. It was so hard I did a lot of research a lot of phone calls and after three months I was able to find a program for my father that helps seniors. I had to do a spend down on my dads monies to a certain amount and once I did they paid 3750 and dads monies paid the rest. It was time consuming on the phone a lot but it really helped in the end to find this place that helps the elderly. I wish you nothing but the best and I hope this helps . God bless you and Dad

I'm in a similar situation with my mom, she is 84, has dementia, she's restless and confused. Every 3 hours she's waking me up. I found a group of possible live in caregivers to help.me, although, I'm not sure what the cost will be? She sees a Dr. On Friday., so I guess I'll find out if she qualifies for assistance.

Is he a veteran? If so contact the VA social worker! Regardless of your assets and income, the VA now pays the caregiver to take care of the patient and it is not taxable income. I wish more caretakers were aware of this! It’s a life saver!

Hi is there anyone out there whose relative has Lewy body dementia with Alzheimers?

Hi Angela,

It sounds like you might benefit from talking with other people affected by dementia within our online community, Talking Point. Feel free to browse and read others' experiences, or you can create an account to reply and connect with others who may be going through a similar situation: https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/

You can also speak with one of our Dementia Advisers by calling the Dementia Connect support line on 0333 150 3456. They will be able to provide you with dementia information and advice. (More information about the support line, including opening times, here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line)

We hope this helps.

Alzheimer's Society blog team

Hi Yes my husband has late stage Lewy body .He is very weak and is so thin.What is it you want to know.

Thank you...My mum in law has lewy body too. She sleeps practically all day her legs are stiff although she can walk but not far. She uses a stick im her full time carer just not sure what stage she is in xx

Hi!
I’d like to talk to you about it. My dad has Lewy body & early stage Parkinson's and is thin as a rail. He has REM disorder, sleeps a lot & his weight is deteriorating rapidly. He’s 96.

What would you like to know. Myhusband died a month ago .I looked after him at home for6years.I have a lot of experience .

Yes my Mom has it, she is 83 years old.

They have never confirmed what kind of dementia my Mom has. However, I have been caring for her for about 7 years and I am convinced it is Lewy Body. She is now late stage and the physical demands are now getting too much for me. It kills me seeing her like this - Not knowing who her family is or where she is in time. Can’t walk anymore and is starting to have difficulty swallowing when eating. It pains me to even be writing this. Feel so guilty for ever getting short tempered from lack of sleep and mental/emotional exhaustion!🥺

my mother does

Hi Angela
My mom was diagnosed with Lewy Body . I would love to connect . [email protected]

my mom may have dementia but has not been diagnosed. She hasn't bathed or washed her hair since Thanksgiving. I have lived with her for going on 4 years. She is delusional and very critical of me, accusing me of stealing, calling me a slut. She has no cause to call me a slut. Always has been critical of me. She is still mobile which is good. Nosy as all heck. I swear if she goes into a home, I'm out of here.

A diagnosis might help, then tablets might help. I can imagine it must be really difficult. My mum turns into a loud chatty person, often at night, the tablets have helped. She can’t walk so is use to being cared for.
The first night out of the care home, mum called the carer a flousy, she is married with 2 children.
You need support.

A trip to the hairdresser is the way to get my mom a shampoo.

Patricia, your mom sounds a typical dementia. You need to take her to a neurologist for a diagnosis. She is probably already a middle stage AD.

My father is the same way as your mom accusing me of stealing and telling me I Am no good :(
His doctors put him on the black label drug called risperdome. And it’s changed his behavior for the better!
I truly hope this helps you

It is so important to get a brain and thorough eye diagnosis for your mother and for your sake. Such tests should include a test for blood pressure and diabetes. For example, vascular dementia causes mini stokes. With each stroke the brain changes resulting in sudden mood changes. My beloved sibling suffered a lot and was totally misunderstood because of such sudden brain changes resulting in disorientation, bad moods, feeling persecuted, having panic attacks, losing and hiding keys and her phone, locking herself in the home through fear. She also suffered damage to her optic nerve because glaucoma had not been diagnosed early.

I was diagnosed with dementia at age 54 in March 2020, just before our world locked down everything. I have worked all my life and planned our retirement with my darling husband, but not sure how quickly the disease will progress. I did try several medicines but all without any luck. I also had to resign from my employment in a VP role after 25 years of work experience. In July of last year, I was unable to drive any longer. The loss of friendships, independence, inability to handle normal tasks and activities has been truly so difficult, I have learned that it is best to focus on the present moment but from a patient’s experience, the key word I use to describe Early Onset Dementia is exhausting but create an openness to help🙏🏼❤️

Sending you ❤️ and prayers Patricia.
My mum is going through the same thing at 70 which started at the beginning of the pandemic last year. She was a socially active person and like you she had to resign from her board which she loved and enjoyed so much. She was about to be voted chairman unanimously by the board after 40 years of working in the financial sector but had to resign and I feel so bad 😞
Mum has good days and bad days. Some days she remembers most things, other days she’s confused about everything. Walking helps to some extent.
Because you are young, maybe gentle yoga and meditation would help . I heard coconut water is good too.
Wishing you good health and positivity from the other side of the world.
Shra

Your mom could be in a very critical moment now. When a person is in middle stage dementia, it can only takes a few months to decline to late stages where no more dignity and independence.
I would suggest you to monitoring if you mom getting more nightmares and hallucinations during late night sleep.

My brother has vascular demencia as well as diabetes. He takes 5 different types of medications and sleeps most of the day and sometimes I have to ask him to eat. At times he doesn't want to eat and complains that he is tired and goes to sleep. At night he will get up at least 10 times to go to the bathroom. I ask him why he sleeps and he says he is tired. He doesn't communicate much. He is not even seventy yet. He has 2 grandchildren but doesn't remember. He sometimes doesn't remember where he was a few minutes earlierl.

Lots of trips to the toilet could possibly be high blood sugar if he’s diabetic so worth checking on that if you haven’t already. Sorry if you already know that, just in case 🙏 x

My father was diagnosed with Behavior Variant Frontal Lobe Dementia last fall when symptoms of the disease came out full swing. He is 79 years old and I am sure he’s had it for years but he was able to control his emotions until last fall. His GP did blood tests and they came back clean and then an MRI show atrophy on the frontal lobe. Once we got the diagnosis the doctor prescribed Seroquel and that made him worse after 8 weeks on it I told the doctor that we need to take him off of it because it was pure hell. Once off the seroquel and it cleares the system he seemed to get bettee with weeks between episodes of agitation and aggression. Yes, he’d open up the cabinets to “air them out” or take all the pictures and lay them on the floor but outside of that and sone delusions he’s been fine. His issue is and has been lack of sleep at night and keeping myself and my mother up at night with the wandering.

But, over the last two weeks, since the clocks moved forward it seems as if his bad episodes are more frequent. He will eat something and its “salty” no matter what it is. He thinks he owns every car and house in the neighborhood and you can’t tell him otherwise. He even told a neighbor to get out of his house, when we try to explain to him that the houses are not ours he would get angry and aggressive towards my mom and myself.

The doctor suggested I give him melatonin which I startes giving him two days ago, I purchased 5mg gummies at the local pharmacy and it seems to make him sleep through the night but he’s still moody and angry. What’s worse is he woke up fine and in good spirits these two days but something would set him off and it’s horrible how he acts. Last night we joked and talked and this morning he was hell.. my cousin is a neurologist and he thinks this could be a phase that will eventually pass but to me it seems as though its getting worse. Now he’s calmed down but honestly this is no way to live, not for him and not for us as caregivers.

How is your father's sleep at night? Does your mom complain a lot about nightmares and hallucinations of him?

It is my darling father who is being snatched away from this dreadful disease. Diagnosed 05 years ago, he turned 82 past February. He is very frail that he can hardly walk unaided. He sleeps many hours daily, seems like he cannot open his eyes, can barely swallow solid food. I feel so sad to see him this way.

Do you know how is his sleep at night? I bet he must have a lot nightmares and hallucinations. That is why he feels sleepy during daytime.

That’s the issue, his sleep at night is not the best and even when he is quiet and not walking around, I am not sure he is sleeping well. Someone suggested CBD supplements but I will talk to his doctor about that, for me anything that can calm him down and get him to sleep most nights would be great.

Hello, my dad is 77 and he is in a care home with end stage alzheimers. The dementia came about due to my dad having a TBI 8 years ago where he had a bleed on the brain and a fractured skull. Six months ago my dad was as fit as any one could possibly be with alzheimers disease. He was extremely mobile. Now due to the terrible overuse of antipsychotics and sedatives on an off he is unable to move and he just lies in bed staring at nothing. He can't feed himself or find his mouth to take a drink and cannot swallow well anymore and is on a pureed diet. He has lost over 2 stone during this period and struggles to lift his head up. He cannot communicate. Please beware of these awful drugs which speed the disease up. My father has been moved 6 times in the last 6 months which has also caused the rapid decline. It is hearbreaking watching my dad die slowly.

Hi Liz this is similar to my Mum, she is advanced stage Alzheimer's but was still quite engaging 6-8 months ago. Commenced on risperidone in Feb 21 due to increasing agitation and although a really low dose it has advanced the disease no end! No appetite , barely able to get her to have fluids and food, increased incontinence and completely with drawn barely able to smile or speak ..really distressing to see, we are in process of slowly decreasing the risperidone dose to see if we can manage without, sadly maybe too much damage has already occurred though.

My mum has been in rispiderone now for well over year now. This was prescribed to try to calm her after both specialist dementia day centres she attended saying that she would no longer be allowed to go because of her behaviour. This consisted of constant singing and invading other attendees personal space. I didn't like her being on it but when we recently did a month's trial with her off the medication, the behaviour which had been slightly suppressed returned and both day centres reported that this was the case when she was there. She is still on "trial" at the local authority day centre to see if they can "cope" with having her there.
I am therefore alarmed to read what you wrote Jayne and I have noticed an increase in incontinence this year, slurred speech and her wanting to stay in bed. It is difficult to know what to do for the best as we need the support of the day centres three days a week as we can only cover the other four due to work commitments.

My dad appears to be in the same boat as yours. He’s 94 with end stage Alzheimer. He was vibrant, alert and attentive until these drugs were prescribed to him. He sleeps all day, he’s on oxygen 24/7. They said he developed CHF. How, why, when are my questions? I’m just making him comfortable because he is immobile.

Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. It give me strength to know that I’m not alone. I am 30 years old and have lived with my grandmother for 6 years. She lost her husband 9 years ago, and this definitely changed her. She was with him for 40 years and he did everything for her. I decided to move in and not let her feel so alone. In January 2020 she was diagnosed with dementia. She would remember the past so well, but not retain any new information. She wouldn’t sleep at night, and be afraid someone will come in the house. She had moments where she thought my grandfather left her. This was unbearable as I constantly had to remind her my grandfather passed away. They were able to give her some medication which made her sleep better at night. Covid happen, and I decided to stay home with her full time, only to find out in August 2020 she has inflammatory breast cancer. Without chemo they give her 6 months and with 1-2 years. Can you imagine an 83 year old having to deal with dementia and cancer? This question really had an affect on me, because it makes you feel helpless. Her appetite has gone, she sleeps all day, never wants to walk, or shower. She’s a completely different person. She has 4 daughters and 14 grandkids. But I’m the one that is with her 24/7, I got married 2 years ago and my husband and I made a commitment to be there for her. I can’t explain what both my grandparents mean to me. I just try taking it one day at a time. I hope this post helps anyone feeling vulnerable. I am also here

My prayers are for you. It isn’t easy
And hurts your heart.

I know exactly what you are going through ,my mum is 88 this month and has the same diagnosis, it's terrible but you do the best you can. I am afraid to go to sleep at night as I am constantly listening out for her, I am always tired but the option of putting her in a nursing home has crossed my mind several times but at the moment my heart won't let me do it ,, just try your best to take care of yourself. My thoughts are with you .

Dear Jacklyn,
I know at first hand what it is like to lose a very close loved one to dementia, as I am losing my Dad in the same way. My heart goes out to you and I'm sending you a big virtual hug.
I'm not sure I have words to make things easier for you but I offer this:
1) my 86 year old mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer; otherwise she was fit and bright a a button, though had recently lost her husband. on advice from her consultant she opted for a mastectomy as chemo was not an option. After the op, they told us the cancer had spread to lymph and bone; so she had gone through the op for nothing. Because she was mentally very able at the time she instructed her doctors to cease all treatment and let her go. She felt she had had a wonderful life. At the end we were all with her when she died. My point is your grandmother does not have to go through chemo or any other aggressive treatment especially if she can derive no benefit from it; there are wonderful palliative options to make her last stages of life as good as they can be. think about her quality of life and what she might have wanted were she able to understand the choices available to her and their consequences.
2) Taking care of your grandmother in the way you are doing is a wonderful caring thing; but you are human (maybe even super-human ) and you can't do all this on your own. Make sure you get support from all the agencies available and from other members of your family....even to give you a bit of respite or a weekend off. Take early advice on palliative care and ends of life care so you know what to expect and who to call. You cannot look after others if you are emotionally and physically exhausted - you need to take care of yourself too.
Thank you for posting; good luck from hereon.

3 years ago my mum was diagnosed with alzeimers and about 18 months ago I moved in with her to look after her she has problems withs her balance so has to use a walking frame. And most days there's times when she dosent know who I am. And before I moved in with my mum I didn't realise how badly carers get treated by the the government when I moved in with my mum things had gone down hill really fast with her so I didn't get chance to get power of atturney. Iv got carers coming in every morning to give her a shower and a few month ago I didn't know they hadn't been getting paid and they sent a bill for 2k and I phoned them I didn't know if it was legal to pay this out of my mums bank so they said they would put a hold on it till I could find out 2 weeks later the council sent a letter threatening to send my mum to jail if it wasn't paid so I finally managed sort it out. Then I find out if she gets to bad they could put her in a home no matter what I say and if they do they will sell the house to pay for it and make me homeless it's like they think it's not stressful enough looking after someone with alzeimers

Hi Trevor,

Thanks for your comment - we're really sorry to hear about this situation with your mum. This sounds really stressful.

You may find it helpful to talk to one of our dementia advisers who can give you information, advice and support. To speak with an adviser, please call 0333 150 3456 to contact our Dementia Connect support line. More details about this (including opening hours) are available here: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-connect-support-line

The guidance around paying for care can be complex and may vary depending where you live, but we have some information and resources in this article that you might find useful: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-together-magazine-febmar-20/sell…

I hope this is helpful, Trevor. Please do call our support line and talk to an adviser for more support.

Thanks,
Alzheimer’s Society blog team

Are you in the UK? No one goes to jail for not paying a bill, believe me. Also, if you are 60 years old of over the local authority can’t take the house into consideration if you live in the house. There are rules so have a look on the internet but I am in the same situation.

Yes I'm in the UK and I'm 56 I knew about the being over 60 rule that's why I was worried about it and yes I do live in the house I'm my mum's full time carer

Thank you I’m in the hospital with my Mom now . She will be 87 May 8 she is sleeping a lot today and won’t wake up to eat .

Hello Jacklyn, just wanted to let you know I understand your pain. And want to tell you that you are a great human and granddaughter for taking the blessed responsibility of caring for your grandma. May the Lord bless you and strengthen you as you continue to care for her.

You are a wonderful granddaughter!!! You and your husband are a blessing to your grandmother- he is to be thanked and praised as well, because many family members even with a long history- will not sacrifice when the going gets rough. They just want to put them in a home for someone else to take care of. Please know that you are doing the right thing and will never regret it!!!

Just be sure to take care of yourselves and seek out help when needed!

Let other family members know what they can do when they ask.

Not only will you have a clean conscience and sense of satisfaction as you care for your grandmother, even though it may be hard...you will also be pleasing our creator, who made us to take care of our own❣️ 1 Timothy 5:4 💕

Yes very thank you