We are encountering something similar with my dad. I did learn when I was caring for my cousin, who had dementia, that as it progresses, the person will likely sleep more and more. She was eventually in a Memory Care unit and they were able to get her to take her meds, but I’m not sure how. I think she only took most meds once a day. Daddy has a lot twice a day, and some right before bed. It’s a struggle. I hope you get some suggestions from her doctor.

Does she take any meds that make her sleepy?

@cking325 Since you have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow and I saw your question rather late, I’ll only mention a few things. Will your husband also be going to the doctor’s app’t? Is your husband OK with you giving approval to new medicines or stopping old ones? If you have time, write down as much information as you can so the MD will understand what’s going on. And write the doctor’s responses, too. Will save a lot of confusion in the long run.
As for medications, ask the doctor which are of primary importance and which you can skip. This will make medicine time a little easier. Also, ask for tips on giving the pills to someone who doesn’t want to take them. When I worked as a nurse, we frequently put pills in a spoonful of applesauce. Ice cream and pudding work well, too!
If the doctor is friendly, what do you think they will say about your MIL’s overall care? I don’t know you, but I can tell that you’re trying very hard to give your MIL some good days and dignity as she approaches end of life.

Thank you so much best advise and yes my husband is her caretaker I do share with him our daily routine etc last nite he took her to urgent care as she was not eating and started spitting up mucus so he took her to urgent care and she’s still there he’s on his way back to urgent care at Kaiser again so not sure what is going to happen
One thing I noticed is she’s starting to not eat it drink and she just sits and looks out the window or sleeps
She’s sleeping more and more
I’m actually thinking the meds for her ITU could have made her sick on an empty stomach but the Doc did say she was dehydrated so I will keep you all up to date I pray they put her in a center for aftercare I can’t do this it’s do much getting her to drink and eat it makes me feel like I’m to blame for her getting dehydrated I tell her all day drink your tea drink your water I put a little lemon or a slice of orange in water for better taste it just is not working out for me
Talk soon all thanks again for all your support I’m thankful for this info🌹

At the end of his life, my brother was sleeping maybe 22 hours a day, didn't want to eat. I remember my grandfather also stopped eating in the end, my mother would ask me to feed him, as he wouldn't refuse his granddaughter. Also my mother stopped eating in the end, and did sleep a lot. These werr my experiences, but may not be yours. I know it's frustrating, but you can only do so much, then you have to back off and just love her the way she is.

I agree about the eating. I might inquire about the options if she is unable to eat. My cousin had instructed me years earlier, that she did not want artificial hydration or nutrition. So, she went on Hospice and they were a great help.

My husband has had a couple phases of when he sleeps alot (10-14 hours) but he still eats well and drinks plenty of fluids, thank god. His neurologist said for me not to be too concerned at this point because when he's sleeping he doesn't have to "think" or remember anything and things are "all good in his mind". His med schedule is a little wonky when this happens and I've told her about that as well and she told me to just keep doing the great job that I'm doing and as long as he's getting his meds he'll be fine ( so-to-speak). AND he looks SO peaceful when he's sleeping and i treasure those little joys that he "gives" me... like nothing has changed since when we first met... if that makes sense. If sleep is what it takes for him not to struggle, or be confused or frustrated, or agitated, I will embrace that. I know our situation is a little different because he IS still eating but this horrible journey is the same and i pray for all involved in caring with someone with dementia AND most of all for the person living with dementia.
Love, prayers and hugs to all

Add me to the group whose loved often asks about other people that she believes are here, or in another room, or where her mom is in the house (15 years deceased)... and she sometimes thinks I'm not here, but that I'm our son.

I do tell her the truth... because if I play along with her beliefs, she goes on a searching expedition... which is unsafe for her to do (she's often dizzy, has weak extremities, osteoporosis, and is a significant fall risk).

I'm certain I'm not so unique. Hang in everybody!

/LarryG

My husband sleeps so much during the day. I haven’t found the answer to what causes this. However, he does have a better day if he sleeps late in the morning. One time we had an early haircut appointment around 9:00. By the time she finished with both of us, he was so tired, like he lost all his energy, and we couldn’t get him to walk to my car. I had to call an ambulance to get him from salon to the car! I now never schedule any appointments before 11:00.

I have a 57 year old daughter who has been told she has onset dementia. Sometimes I feel the diagnosis does not fit ,somedays she is quite well and other days has trouble getting her words out ,is very concerned about the pets .is this normal?

my cousin with dementia after going into a residential facility would ask about her cat continuously. It was a vicious cat, biting and scratching everyone including my cousin whose arms were all scratched. I don't know what happened to her cat, I assume her friends had it euthanized as no one could/would adopt it, and it was old about 13 with cancer. But now when she asks I tell her the cat was adopted by a family with 2 children, and they love her cat. It keeps her calm and relaxed, and she will only ask once or twice, (not 12 times in 1/2 hour). She finds the "lie" a source of peace, and that's important at this point in her journey.