Most seniors have trouble sleeping. It’s very common for seniors to suffer from insomnia or to have trouble staying asleep once they fall asleep. There are many things that can cause sleep problems for seniors like medications, diet, health conditions, anxiety, depression, and stress. But getting at least eight hours of restful sleep is very important to keep seniors healthy. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the chances of seniors gaining weight, developing diabetes, and developing other serious illnesses. Hire elder care providers to assist with this problem.
According to sleep experts these are things that seniors should be doing if they are struggling with insomnia or just having problems sleeping in general:
Exercise Everyday
Regular exercise will help seniors feel more tired at night and it can help reset their Circadian rhythm, which is what controls when people feel tired or alert. Walking daily is a fantastic way for seniors to improve the quality of their sleep and get tired at night. Just 20-30 minutes of walking each day can completely transform the way seniors sleep. If your senior loved one often struggles to fall asleep at night suggest that they walk around the block every day and see if that has an impact on their sleep. It probably will.
Get Elder Care At Night
One of the most common reasons why seniors have trouble sleeping at night is that they don’t feel safe or secure at home at night alone. They sometimes are afraid of crime or break-ins. Other times they may be afraid of falling at night if they get up to go to the bathroom or get sick in the middle of the night. Seniors that use medical equipment like a CPAP or supplemental oxygen at night may be unable to sleep because they’re afraid something will malfunction. If your senior loved one has elder care at night they won’t be alone. It will lessen their anxiety to have an elder care provider in the house at night and that can be enough to help them relax enough to sleep.
Eat A Light Snack
Eating heavy foods close to bedtime is not recommended. But eating a light protein snack about an hour before bed can help seniors fall asleep. Because many seniors don’t eat enough during the day hunger can keep them up at night. A slice of toast with peanut butter or some crackers and cheese as a snack about an hour before they want to fall asleep is a great way to help seniors sleep better. The protein will help them stay full throughout the night. A protein drink is a great snack option too.
Set A Bedtime
Establishing a routine and going to bed at the same time every night will help seniors fall asleep faster. When seniors keep a schedule and go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time their body’s internal clock will start to adjust to that schedule and they will start to get tired around that bedtime each night.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Elder Care Services in Norwood MA, or anywhere in Eastern Massachusetts, please call the caring staff at CARE Resolutions – at (508) 906-5572.
Helping Hands, Happy Hearts
Specializing in Quality Home Care in Eastern Massachusetts.
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