Mum in Hibernation Mode

Mum In Hibernation Mode

Is it the winter, with the shorter days? So many people feel the effects of the seasons, and winter can be especially trying. I accept happily the changing seasons, but towards the end of November, with the nights getting ever longer, I find myself looking forward to December 21, and the winter solstice, after which the days turn and start to lengthen, and I can feel spring will soon be here.

Since September, when Mum was whisked off to hospital, and we discovered her iron levels were low, we have noticed Mum has been having more days where she sleeps through various mealtimes.  It used not to worry me unduly - we can all miss a meal, with no ill-effects, but it is happening to Mum more frequently.

There is no set pattern. On a normal day, she will be up and doing and awake at breakfast, have a nap afterwards, and be up and ready for her dinner at lunch time. After another nap, she is usually read to get up again at about 7.30, and have some supper, before bedtime at 10.00 -10.30.  On "sleepy" days, she can be awake at breakfast, and back to bed as usual - and then stay completely fast asleep for hours afterwards; or else she can have lunch, and then sleep right through until 10.30 p.m., when the carers come again for the bed call.  When that happens, if Mum wakes up, they will put a clean pad on for her, and settle her back in bed. I put the back of the bed up into the sitting position, and Mum will cheerfully tuck in to tea and cake in bed. We have also experienced her not waking up in the morning, even though the carers have taken her to the bathroom, washed and dressed her in clean clothes, and then got her back in to bed, and she has slept soundly and peacefully for another 6 hours, finally getting up at 2.00 p.m., with the arrival the carers at lunchtime.

This is happening more regularly, and she quite often misses a meal and a cup of tea. It is a strange phenomenon; it's as though her brain has "switched off" for that time, and only comes back to life after a much longer rest period. Today, for example, she was awake enough at breakfast, but falling asleep again at 10.00 a.m. - she kept going long enough to finish her tea, but it was a real effort for her.

We all accept that Mum is getting weaker - there are times when she really can't stand up, or do the "twiddle" from the chair to glider, or bed to chair, and has to be hoisted. The carers we have now, are very good, very understanding and gentle with her, so she doesn't complain about it - at least, not very much!  On the other hand, her upper body strength is still pretty good; she can press hard down on the arms of her chair, and lift herself up to sit more comfortably.

She also seems to get be getting more tired; to cheer her up, and give her something to look forward to, Mum knows I have booked for us all to go for Tea at the Ritz in July. I never make too many plans, but with a bit of faith and hope, perhaps with the coming of the spring she might find a new release of energy, and take a couple more "forward" steps again.