You Need Better Sleep! How to Get It

You have a tough job if you are a caregiver for your aging parent. You have many additional duties stacked on top of your existing responsibilities. While getting your kids off to the school bus, you may have to contact your mother's doctor to confirm her appointment for next week. You may be buying groceries for two households. On top of that, you may have a career you enjoy. Running from one task to another may exhaust you, but you know you cannot drop the ball, so you sacrifice sleep to get more done. Does this sound familiar? If it does, it is time to step back and rethink this daily cycle that gets you in a rut.
To be able to give your parents help, you need to be at the top of your game. That starts with getting plenty of sleep. You may struggle with guilt for putting rest before duties, but there is no need to feel that way. Utilise the assistance of professional home care workers and know that you have the support you require. You will be sleeping like a baby and still be able to handle all your responsibilities.

4 Suggestions to Get the Sleep You Need

Caregivers need all the help they can get to rest better at night. Here are four suggestions to get you started:

1. Create a haven in your bedroom. Your sleep chambers should be free of items that may keep you awake. For example, remove electronic devices. Also, avoid keeping bills and insurance claims in your room. Instead, turn this area into a haven used only for sleep. Limit light exposure, play soft music, and turn the temperature down a little bit. You may even try a weighted blanket.
2. Watch what you consume before bed. Now that your haven is prepared, you want to be able to drift off to sleep. Caffeine is one of those ingredients that will affect your ability to sleep soundly. It is a good idea to limit your intake close to bedtime. Also, consider turning off your TV and putting down your smartphone. The blue light tricks your brain into thinking it is daylight, and your body will not release much-needed melatonin.
3. Prep for the day ahead of time. Preparing as much as possible the evening before any appointments is beneficial. This helps you focus on sleeping rather than waking to remember that you need to add something to your list. Preparing the evening before for appointments the next day can help you have a restful morning instead of rushing around.
4. Create an effective routine. Besides making your bedroom a haven and watching what you consume, a before-bedtime routine goes a long way to rest better. You may want to read a book, listen to soft music, sip herbal tea, take a warm bath, or do all of it. The goal is to relax your body before you hit your bed.

Sleep Better with Elder Care Support for Your Loved One

You deserve to sleep soundly, knowing your senior is in good hands. The team at Home Instead Kitchener-Waterloo, ON can do just that. We offer a customized home care package that supports your family member's needs. Depend on us for personal care assistance, medication reminders, light housekeeping, respite care, Alzheimer's care, and more. Contact us today for more information.

Call us at (519) 571-1665 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver every day to families in Kitchener-Waterloo, Breslau, Conestogo, Elmira, St Jacobs, and surrounding areas.