Sleep is an important element of healthy aging, but what if a senior loved one has trouble sleeping? While sleep patterns do alter with age, it’s crucial to rule out any physical, emotional, cognitive, or pharmaceutical variables.
Insomnia, a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty sleeping or staying asleep, affects many elderly. The Sleep Foundation lists the following symptoms of elderly insomnia:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Constantly waking up
- avoiding going to bed at a reasonable time
- Inability to wake up refreshed
- Having trouble concentrating during the day Using sleeping pills
- If a loved one has insomnia, make an appointment with a doctor
Disregarding insomnia can result in daytime tiredness, irritation, higher risk of falls and accidents, and decreased quality of life. Insomnia can affect metabolism, mental, cardiovascular, immunological, and lung health.
How In-Home Care Can Help Seniors Sleep Better
A physician can identify the causes of sleeplessness and propose a treatment plan, but a home personal caregiver can provide support. Here is how a trained in-home caregiver can help elders sleep better:
- Companionship – For a calm nighttime ritual, an EasyLiving caregiver can provide companionship. A “turndown” service is provided by our caregivers to help your loved one prepare for bed. A skilled home caregiver can be a soothing, reassuring presence if your senior gets scared, worried, or awakened at night.
- Help with dementia symptoms – In dementia patients, “sundowning” causes increased disorientation, anxiety, and agitation from twilight till dawn. Sundowning can cause insomnia, pacing, confusion, and restlessness. EasyLiving can provide devoted dementia care and safe nighttime supervision.
- Routines for a healthy day – Changes in daily routines can impact sleep quality. For example, avoiding long afternoon naps, eating meals on a regular schedule, and exercising regularly are all habits that an EasyLiving’ caregiver may help seniors maintain.
- Boost slumber before bedtime – Pre-bedtime sleep routines might help manage insomnia. Preventing exposure to artificial light before night requires a caregiver to encourage your elder to switch off the TV and engage in conversation or reading. A caretaker can also keep your loved one’s room quiet, dark, and warm.
- Remind me to take my – We will remind seniors to take their prescriptions on time.
- Prevent nocturnal accidents – Sleep apnea, diabetes and urological or gastrointestinal diseases can all induce insomnia. The danger of a fall or accident increases when a senior gets out of bed to use the restroom or grab a drink, especially if they have mobility, vision or cognitive issues. A night caregiver from EasyLiving can assist reduce awake time and minimize accidents.
- Help a spouse or family member – When a senior has trouble sleeping, it affects the whole family. Our caregivers can assist your elder during the night so that other family members can rest.
Contact EasyLiving
Our EasyLiving in-home caregivers can help keep your elderly loved one secure, reassure them, and encourage healthy sleep habits while offering peace of mind for family members. Contact us today for a free consultation.
