When someone you love has dementia, even ordinary changes in their routine can become a source of concern. If your parent begins spending more of the day asleep, you may wonder whether it is simply a result of dementia sleep patterns changing or whether something else could be wrong.
Maybe they nod off in their recliner shortly after breakfast. Perhaps an afternoon nap has turned into several hours of sleep, or they are going to bed much earlier than they once did. Watching these changes can leave you wondering how much sleep is considered normal for someone with dementia.
There is no single number of hours that automatically signals a problem. In many cases, the more important consideration is whether your parent’s sleeping habits have gradually changed or whether they have suddenly become much sleepier than usual.
Why Dementia Sleep Patterns Change
Sleep disturbances are a common part of dementia. As the disease progresses, changes in the brain can affect the mechanisms responsible for keeping the body on a regular day-and-night schedule.
For most older adults, approximately seven to nine hours of sleep each night is typical. A person living with dementia may eventually sleep considerably longer, sometimes totaling 13 to 15 hours throughout a 24-hour period.
Although that amount of sleep can look alarming to family members, it does not necessarily indicate that something is medically wrong. Dementia can interfere with the brain’s ability to regulate the sleep-wake cycle, making it difficult for your parent to maintain a normal distinction between daytime and nighttime.
They may become awake several times during the night, have difficulty settling down to sleep, or fail to get the restorative rest they need. After a night of fragmented sleep, increased tiredness during the following day is understandable.
There is also the simple fact that dementia can make everyday life more tiring. Tasks that previously required little thought or effort may become challenging. Your parent may expend considerable energy getting dressed, eating, talking with family members, walking a short distance, or completing another familiar task.
As the disease advances, the extra mental and physical effort can contribute to greater fatigue. Longer naps and additional hours of sleep may therefore become increasingly common.
How Much Sleep Is Too Much?
It can be tempting to set a specific number of hours as a limit, but there is no universal definition of “too much” sleep for a person with dementia.
Sleep needs vary from person to person, and someone in the later stages of dementia may sleep much longer than they did earlier in the disease. An increase in sleep can be a normal part of dementia progression, particularly when it happens gradually.
Looking for changes in patterns may be more helpful than counting every hour. Think about what has been normal for your parent. Have they slowly begun taking longer naps and spending more time in bed over the past several months? Or did their sleep change dramatically within the last 24 to 48 hours?
A gradual increase may be related to the progression of dementia. A sudden shift, however, deserves closer attention because it could be associated with another health issue.
When Should You Call the Doctor?
While additional sleep can be expected, a sudden or dramatic increase in sleepiness should not automatically be dismissed as part of dementia. In some situations, excessive drowsiness has another cause that needs to be addressed.
Contact your parent’s healthcare provider if you notice any of the following:
- Your parent has abruptly started sleeping much more than they normally do.
- They are unusually hard to wake or are noticeably less responsive and alert when awake.
- They have recently begun taking a new medication or have had the dosage of a current medication changed.
- They have a fever or appear to be experiencing pain, dehydration, or an infection.
- They are sleeping through meals regularly or are not drinking enough fluids because they are asleep so often.
- Their increased sleepiness is occurring at the same time as worsening confusion or a noticeable change in their usual behavior.
There are many possible causes of excessive sleepiness beyond dementia itself. For example, infections, medication reactions or side effects, depression, dehydration, and other medical conditions may leave an older adult unusually tired.
When a noticeable change happens quickly, speaking with your parent’s healthcare provider can help determine whether an underlying problem needs to be treated. It is better to have a sudden change evaluated than to assume it is simply another stage of dementia.
How to Help Your Parent Sleep Better
Although dementia-related sleep changes cannot always be avoided, caregivers can take steps to encourage a healthier and more predictable sleep routine.
- Follow a familiar daily schedule. Try to have your parent wake up, eat meals, participate in activities, and go to sleep around the same times each day. Keeping these routines consistent can help strengthen the body’s natural sense of when it should be awake and when it should rest.
- Make daytime light a priority. Natural sunlight can help reinforce the body’s internal clock. Encourage your parent to spend time outdoors when possible or sit near a bright window during the day.
- Keep your parent engaged during waking hours. Gentle activity can help prevent the day from becoming one long period of sleeping. Consider a short walk, playing familiar music, watering plants, folding towels, or another activity your parent enjoys and can safely participate in.
- Wind down before bedtime. A quieter evening can make the transition to sleep easier. Turn down the lights, limit unnecessary household noise, and choose relaxing activities rather than stimulating ones as bedtime approaches.
- Document significant changes. If your parent’s sleep suddenly increases, write down when you first noticed it. Keep track of other changes as well, including appetite, fluid intake, alertness, confusion, behavior, or signs of illness. This information can give the healthcare provider a clearer picture of what is happening.
What to Expect
Dementia does not follow a perfectly predictable path. As the disease progresses, your parent’s needs may change in ways that require you to continually adjust your approach to caregiving.
You may become accustomed to one routine only to discover that it no longer works. Your parent’s memory may decline further. Familiar activities may require more assistance. Daily schedules may need to be modified. Sleep patterns can change, too.
That unpredictability is one of the emotional challenges of dementia caregiving. Understanding that increased sleep can be part of the disease may make these changes feel less frightening. At the same time, knowing your parent’s normal patterns can help you recognize when a change is unusual and may require medical attention.
You do not have to know exactly what every change means. Paying attention, keeping track of significant differences, and reaching out to the healthcare provider when something seems unusual can help you respond appropriately.
Let Us Help You Find Peace of Mind
Caring for someone with dementia [can bring new questions at every stage of the disease. While you cannot prevent every change or eliminate every concern, you can have knowledgeable support to help you navigate the challenges that arise.
Having an experienced caregiver available can make everyday routines easier, provide your parent with meaningful assistance, and give you greater confidence that important changes are being noticed.
If you are looking for additional support, Superior Senior Home Care is here to help throughout Santa Ynez, Arroyo Grande, Lompoc, and the surrounding areas. Call 805-737-4357 any time to learn more about our in-home dementia care services and discover how our team can support your family.