Everybody needs decent sleep, but it’s even more important for aging adults to get the sleep they need. Sleep disturbances can greatly impact their ability to function during the day, hindering quality of life. Problems like insomnia, waking during the night, and daytime sleepiness are all issues seniors need to address. Senior home care providers can help aging adults put a great many of these possible solutions into effect
Identify the Culprit
Before seniors can solve their sleep problems, they need to understand what’s causing them. The list of potential causes is a lengthy one, so it might take some detective work to figure out what’s going on. Medical conditions, side effects from medication, stress, environmental issues, and even lifestyle habits can all have a role to play. Keeping a sleep diary can help.
Increase Physical Activity
If seniors are too sedentary, that lack of physical activity can play into sleep problems. Before starting to exercise, they should talk to their doctors about what is safe and okay. Increasing physical activity, even by a little, can do a lot to reduce sleep issues.
Limit Stimulants After Noon
Stimulants like caffeine or nicotine can make sleep problems bigger for aging adults. These cause problems because they can make it difficult for seniors to relax, especially later in the day. Limiting these ingredients, particularly after midday, can help seniors to start getting better sleep overnight.
Set a Schedule
It’s tough sometimes for seniors to get behind the idea of having a structured routine, but it can help them get what they need. Having a consistent time for going to bed and getting up in the morning helps to reinforce their natural sleep-wake cycle. Home care providers can help with establishing easy routines that don’t feel restrictive at all.
Make the Evening Meal Lighter
Heavy meals late in the day can impact digestion, which can in turn cause sleep issues. One easy way around that is to make the last meal of the day a lighter one. It’s also helpful to eat a little earlier rather than having a late dinner.
Reduce Daytime Napping
When seniors start having trouble sleeping, they might start supplementing their sleep with naps during the day. That might help for a while, but eventually, daytime napping can make sleep problems more complicated. Limiting daytime napping and sticking with shorter naps earlier in the day can do a lot to ease sleep difficulties.
Talk to Medical Providers
Sometimes sleep issues are more complicated and don’t have an easy fix through lifestyle changes and habits. If the cause is an underlying issue, seniors may need to work with their doctors to get to the bottom of what’s going on. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away.
Senior sleep problems are extremely common, but there’s usually a simple solution or combination of solutions to try. Senior home care providers can offer plenty of support while aging adults make adjustments to hopefully improve their sleep as much as possible.