Thank you all for your responses. I would have no problem with my 100 year old husband sleeping most of the day if it was reflection of his age, but I feel his sleeping so much is because he is depressed --which he has told me and others. I am hoping to find things to engage him so he wont feel so "isolated" and "lonely" and "depressed," which he recently told his daughter he was feeling. (He has tried an anti-depressant in the past, but it made him lightheaded, and since he is prone to falls, he doesnt want to try another). He does wear hearing aids, but they only help so much, although the music is the best idea, as he enjoys that and can hear music better than speech. He has never tried to listen with headphones, but I will definitely look into that. As for his sight, he has a cataract in one eye and a stroke has caused him to lose his peripheral vision in the other eye, so reading is almost impossible for him. And I dont think he could hear well enough for audio books, but I have never tried them and will definitely do so.
Once again, thank you all for the suggestions. I have been letting him sleep all he wants, but given the fact that he has most of his marbles, his health is stable, and his vital signs are better than mine (and I am 17 years younger)I guess I am hoping for a bit more of life for him, and for us!
I recommend that you get involved in some women groups at your church, Senior Services or Shepherd Center. All of those have many activities where you can still be active and have fun with other folks your own age.
And let the poor man sleep!
I know others likely told you how to reply, but if you post here in Questions, there is a little print below answers to press on to reply. So if I am posting, as now, look below my post, right hand side where it says "reply to alvadeer" and press on that to bring up the reply.
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I am sorry that you and others have the impression that I don't let him sleep, and should let him sleep when he wants to. I DO!!!!! I don't wish to change things significantly, as I know that's not possible due to his physical shape. I would just like, if I can, to enhance the quality of his life a bit at this point. We have had a wonderful marriage (45 years) and he was always so caring and there for me when I needed (i.e. mother's lung cancer where he helped to care for her, and even took off a day a week, so I could have some respite). But in any case, I will continue to celebrate what we had, and am remind myself that he has had such a long and productive life, and a wonderful career in the health field. I will keep that in mind when I get down and depressed watching him sleep on the couch for hours with a blanket over his head. Thanks for your words of wisdom, AlvaDeer.
"Life" constitutes something different for you than it does for him.
Some are trained in specific geriatric treatment, and most if not all will be familiar with the needs of people in his situation.
Music therapy is a well researched tool for change and management of troubling conditions, not just listening to “tunes”.
A good fully trained, credentialed music therapist can make miracles for some clients.
Do a Google search and see if you can find a university in your area that trains music therapists, then ask them for a recommendation for a geriatric client.
I will look up the title for REGISTERED music therapists and post it here.
I admire your courage and tenacity in providing for your husband’s welfare.
BEST of luck to you both!
do a color me mine.decorate ceramics..
if it’s close by, do a wine tour for a weekend.
if you csn afford it and timing is right..
plan a trip to Aruba, and experience the
GREEN FLASH!
or
go somewhere and see the Nortern lights