Does Alzheimer's sleep all the time.
Hi
No people with Alzheimer's should not sleep all the time though they certainly may sleep a lot in the late stage of the disease. That might be nothing to do with Alzheimer's. I think you need to have your relative/friend assessed by a doctor and get an accurate diagnosis. People with Alzheimer's get sick too.
Best wishes with this
Christine
Assume your relative has Alzheimer's. In late stage, the patient may sleep at the wrong time. e.g., sleep more in the day and wake up at night because the clock in him is altered due to his brain defect.
The other problem is the person has nothing to do because he/she can no longer read/write and does not understand the TV anymore. Try to engage him/her with some activities that the person can do and distract the patient. Keep him/her busy and active in the day, then he/she may sleep better and sleep at the right time.
Rarely the person sleeps all day unless he is sick. My father-in-law is sick if he sleeps all day (with pneumonia or infection and etc.) Seek a doctor for this. Later in the very end, when the patient becomes idle, then he/she may sleep all day if he/she reaches this stage.
Take care,
Nina
Thank you, Christine! You've offered great understanding toward the resolution of many perpetual problems a Caregiver works through. Assuming you don't mind, I'll soon include this as well as another of your articles on my WebSite. Please advise if you'd rather I didn't. Thank you. Vernon www.alzheimersinhomecare.com
Thanks for the information!
The reason I came searching is because my dad is extremely resistant to requests, such as can you please get up and get dressed so we can go to the doctor.
In other words, no reasoning will motivate him to act. Yet when there's a doctor's appointment, we gotta go!
So what will it take to get to the doctor's office, or other places, on time?
I want to add that my dad has been a narcissist his whole life meaning that being a contrarian is not a new thing, the non-motivation, though, is.
Thanks!
Hi iJames
That is the problem with apathy. You have certain appointments that you have to get to and by its very nature the apathy associated with brain damage in Alzheimer's means they do not see any reaon in action and cannot find the motivation anyway.
You point out that your father was always rather self centred and that is probably causing you problems. Is it that you are still feeling that his lack of motivation is his fault, that he has some sort of control of his apathy?
Christine
Thanks for answering Christine,
I can't see your question while I'm replying here.
It's been quite a process disassociating the apathy and other new behaviors with the history of selfishness, because the contrarian behavior just seems less restrained. The sudden drop in motivation and since then a continuing disappearance of motivation, though is different. Strained relations are not new in the family, things still strained, but now it's different. Not being the full time caregiver the weight is not on me. My mom has been doing OK till now.
But even with outside help now, the issue of getting my dad to do the things he's able to do is now taking a very long time. Getting up, eating, "reading" the paper, showering, dressing can take all day.
So I'm looking for concrete suggestions on what can be done to solve the problem? My mom is the best at getting him to move, but she's getting worn down. Hired helpers have been overwhelmed with his stalls.
I've made phone calls on five minute intervals telling him he's got to be ready and to get moving, and that seems to work sometimes, but it's quite an effort.
I think playing music might help.
Also using ploys like "we need to pick up mom" might help but only if they're done, and we don't yet have a system in place.
The worst thing is to try to force him. Taking things away (like the empty glass), or "helping" him get to the bedroom is met with the worst opposition.
Urging exercise, which would help him so much, is another impossibility. I wish I had gotten them that dog five years ago.
It seems the conclusion I'm coming to is that it's got to be family and it's got to be persistent urgings. Unless there's something else.
They've been in the same house for 45 years and he's been pretty much sitting in the same chair for 6 years now every day. It seems to me, such a stagnant vision would help kill anybody's brain cells too. Yet confusion is a big concern too.
So thanks again for the reply. Any thoughts you have are greatly appreciated!
This resistance reminds me of working with someone with obsessive compulsive behavior - the more you push the more locked up they get and the less capable they are of completing a task. OCD behaviors can be part of dementia.
It's very difficult, to say the least, when the person won't see a doctor, and OCD behaviors are hard to treat with medications, anyway. I'm not trying to diagnose OCD, I'm just comparing the two because I've got a loved one with OCD and your dad's behavior reminds me of that disease.
You are trying everything you can, but most "logical" steps are not working. I know that feeling. Music is a great idea for nearly anyone (though, my uncle hated music - highly unusual!) Generally, there is some soothing mechanism that occurs with music.
Is it possible for you to talk with a doctor about your dad having depression and/or OCD and see what options a professional in this field can suggest?
Much of this is about your mom. She can't handle this alone, or her own health won't last. Good luck with this very difficult situation. We are here to listen and give whatever suggestions we can. I wish we could do more.
Carol
Hi iJames
One thing I think you are finding is that there are fixed solutions to dealing with apathy. As you and your mother are finding out, a strategy that may work sometimes will not always work. Everyone who reads your comments will be impressed at the effort you are all making. You are doing all the right things. Trying different things is good. I think it would make no difference at all if you had brought them that dog!
Has your father's doctor diagnosed apathy rather that depression? You do mention that is has been difficult ‘process disassociating the apathy and other new behaviors with the history of selfishness'. An accurate diagnosis can make a difference with any drug interventions that may help him (and you). It is when you mentioned that your help can sometimes be met with ‘opposition' does not sound like apathy.
As people age their interests and ability to take an active part, an interest in stuff often dramatically declines.
Golden rules are; do not nag, do not raise your voice or point out their lack of interest. Gentle encouragement and distraction during hygiene and other routines get better results. Start trying to get him ready early for any appointments so you avoid getting overtly stressed and find yourself under too much pressure to do his routine following the golden rules!
Many caregivers will recognise the difficulties and have great sympathy for your situation. It is very hard work. Your father is lucky to have relatives who spend the time looking for workable solutions. Many people with Alzheimer's are not so lucky.
All my best wishes
Christine
Thanks experts for your support and advice!
My dad's been diagnosed with depression and alcoholism, I don't believe OCD or others have been diagnosed. He's gone through many therapists, psychiatrists, much of his adult life. I don't know if anybody pinned narcissism on him either but I think that would explain much of his behavior.
He's been on many head medications over the years and I believe he's on 10mg Lexipro. I don't think I'd want to see him off of that!
So, I'll keep on working with mom and sister to figure out how best to work this. Thanks for the help!
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Very interesting, Christine! The difference between apathy and depression has got to be a fine line in many cases. It's hard to break through apathy and I can see how isolation would contribute. Thanks for another great piece of information.
Carol