Understanding Sleep Problems in Seniors and Finding Helpful Resources
Do you need help with getting enough sleep? Do you have trouble falling asleep at night? Different factors can contribute to a lack of sleep. You may have stress building from being a caregiver to your aging parent and running your household. Getting enough sleep is vital to staying on top of your day-to-day duties. When considering how you can increase your hours of sleep, consider what your mother and father are experiencing. Their bodies do not produce the same amounts of melatonin and cortisol as they age. This affects the quantity and quality of sleep they get.
Ensuring your loved one has a good quality of life is attainable when you enlist the services of an elder care professional. They aid your senior with the personal care assistance they need to get better sleep, which can help them remain healthier and keep them from getting sick as often.
Common Reasons Seniors Suffer from Sleep Issues
Many of the reasons you cannot sleep may also be the ones affecting your mom or dad. For example, stress and worry affect everyone at different times in life. Yet, seniors may be more susceptible to a less restful sleep because they are less active during the day. Here are some common reasons your mom or dad may seem less rested when you see them:
- Caffeine: A big culprit is the consumption of caffeine. Too much coffee, tea, or soft drinks can keep them up at night. Don't forget that chocolate also has caffeine. That means Mom may need to keep the sweets to a minimum before bed.
- Medications: Some drugs may prevent Dad from falling or staying asleep. If he struggles with this problem, talk with his doctor about how the medications may affect his sleep.
- Napping: Those afternoon snoozes can prevent your parent from sleeping well at night. If this is a cause, it may help to avoid naps in favour of better nighttime sleep.
- Health conditions: Some chronic conditions will affect how much sleep your senior gets. They include congestive heart failure, sleep apnea, and urinary incontinence.
Resources to Help with Sleep Disorders
The first resource to reach out to is your loved one's doctor. They may suggest sleep aids such as sleeping pills and melatonin. Other resources can be found with the Canadian Sleep Society. They have newsletters, valuable links, podcasts, sleep information, and opportunities to participate in research studies.
Professional Home Care - Helping Mom Sleep Like a Baby!
Setting up a regular bedtime routine is an excellent first step in helping Mom sleep better. Utilising the services of the team at Home Instead Brantford is the next step. Our caregivers come alongside you and your senior to ensure they get the support they need to enjoy the best health and well-being. We offer tailored home care services for your situation. Please talk with us about personal care assistance, bathing assistance, light housekeeping, medication reminders, cooking for seniors, dementia care, and respite care. We have a range of services available to cater to your needs. Contact us today to learn more.
Call us at (519) 752-4663 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver every day to families in Brantford, Paris, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Dunnville, Port Dover, Woodstock, Caledonia, Cayuga, Fisherville, Simcoe, Waterford, Turkey Point, Port Rowan and Burford.