Doctors Answers (3)
She could have Sleep Apnea (obstructive or central), periodic limb movements of sleep, or Idiopathic Hypersomnia. She should have a complete physical with blood work by her primary care doctor. Next would be a sleep consult with a board certified specialist, who may then order an all night sleep test followed perhaps by a multiple sleep latency test or maintenance of wakefulness test. If nothing is found to explain her sleepiness then a mild dose of a stimulant medication may be in order.
This question is really a question of the correct diagnosis. Excessive daytime sleepiness could be from an underlying sleep disorder, a certain medication or a medical condition among other things - so the best answer to your question is to have your mother evaluated by a physician and establish diagnosis to decide on the best management plan.
It's hard to know what is causing her sleepiness without interviewing her and completing a consultation. Sleepiness during the day can indicate less than refreshing sleep during the night. Once you identify a sleep disorder then there are specific standards of treatment.
