How Does Lack of Sleep Affect the Elderly in Miami-Dade

Posted by Scott Cantin in Alzheimer's Disease, home care, Senior Care | 0 comments

Sleep is an important mechanism that helps you restore energy and heal cognitive and physical damage. It’s more critical in seniors as the quality of sleep gradually deteriorates. Some conditions, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, asthma, and Alzheimer’s disease, can have a negative impact on sleep.

As a caregiver in Miami-Dade, it’s your responsibility to help your seniors improve their quality of sleep in their later years. At Advancare, we recommend a regular sleeping pattern for seniors that lasts between seven and nine hours every night. Our experienced caregivers help provide senior home care services that help boost your senior’s overall health and comfort.

Why is Sleep So Important?

Sleep is an integral part of life that allows your body to rest, recharge, and restore energy. Sleep keeps you healthier, alert, focused, stronger, and happier while helping your body repair damaged organs and cells. Lack of sleep, on the other hand, can lead to depression, memory problems, and increased pain sensitivity. 

That’s why seniors need to have a regular sleeping pattern that helps ensure they’re well-rested. By encouraging your loved one to have a regular sleeping schedule, you will be helping them achieve the following:

• Reduced medication usage
• Increase alertness during waking hours
• Improved cardiovascular health
• Regulated appetite 
• Enhanced memory and attention
• Reduced risk of falling
• Happier and more engaged lifestyle
• Reduced depression symptoms
• Reduced stress and anxiety

Common Reasons for Poor Sleep in Older People

There are many reasons why your senior loved one may struggle to fall asleep or sleep longer hours. Apart from medical conditions, seniors may struggle to sleep due to the following:

• Effects of medication
• Sleeping too much during the day
• Cognitive impairment
• Too much light and other distractions
• Drinking or eating certain foods before bedtime
• Not being physically active throughout the day

How To Promote Good Sleep for Older People

Disrupted sleep in older adults causes them to spend longer in bed, sleeping at intervals throughout the day to catch up. These short intervals may not provide the full benefits that sleep offers, such as boosting the immune system and aiding memory. That’s why you may want to help your senior loved one sleep better. 

You can start by visiting a health professional to review the causes of disrupted sleep. You can enquire about tangible steps to improve your loved one’s sleeping habits and improve the quality of their sleep. Here are tips you can utilize to help promote good sleep in an older person.

• Use the bedroom for sleeping only: Create a conducive atmosphere that promotes sleep. Choose paint colors and lights that help you fall asleep faster. Avoid doing other activities other than sleeping in your bedroom.
• Have a ritual for relaxing before bed: Decide what you should do before bed, such as reading a book, taking a warm shower, or engaging in a few exercises. This helps prepare your brain to know that it’s time for bed.
• Find ways of falling asleep:  Reading a book and listening to music are all great ways of falling asleep. Find what works for you and implement it.
• Engage in daily activities that keep you active and nourished: These could be simple activities like reading books, painting, baking, cooking, or even playing games with other seniors or friends.

We Can Help

Not sure how to go about helping your senior loved one sleep better? Our team at Advancare is here to help. We offer high-quality services through our caregivers, from light housekeeping, errand running, medication management, and much more. Contact us today to learn more.