Seven Reasons Your Loved One can’t Sleep

Not having regular restorative sleep can affect many aspects of a person’s well-being. Unfortunately, many older people struggle with getting a good night’s sleep for many reasons. Helping your loved one discover new tips and techniques to help her sleep better will improve many areas of her life and help make her golden years more golden, and senior home care can help.

 

Seven Reasons the Elderly Struggle with Sleep

#1 – Medications

Some medications can interfere with a person’s ability to either fall asleep or stay asleep. And if your loved one takes multiple medications, they may even be interacting with each other, creating sleep problems. Talk to your loved one’s pharmacist and physician if you feel like her medications might be what’s keeping her up at night.

#2 – Pain

Chronic pain can make getting a restful night’s sleep difficult. Pain may make certain positions unbearable or may wake your loved one up a lot at night, making getting a solid 7-8 hours of sleep impossible. She might need to look into pain management medications that can last throughout the night while she sleeps.

#3 – Poor Sleep Hygiene

Sleep hygiene refers to the habits people have before they go to bed. If your loved one is on her phone or laptop right before bed, those habits can make sleeping a struggle.

#4 – Stress and Worry

Stress and worry can make it hard for the mind to shut down and turn off for the night. Racing thoughts can create a racing heart that can’t relax at night.

#5 – Lack of Exercise

Participating in regular exercise during the day helps the body get ready for the evening hours and helps it self-regulate.

#6 – Lack of Stimulation During the Day

Much like the body, the brain needs to be actively engaged during the day so it can prepare to disengage at night. Playing games, having conversations, and going out for little day trips can all help your loved one sleep better at night.

#7 – Poor Sleeping Environment

Where your loved one sleeps has the biggest impact on how well she sleeps. Her mattress, her pillows, and even the feel of her sheets can all affect how well she sleeps at night.

 

Five Daytime Tips for Sleeping Better at Night

1. Get up at the same time each day. Even if she’s tired when the alarm goes off, getting up will help her go back to sleep at night.
2. Exercise regularly each day. Moving the body will help her relax more later.
3. Get out in the sun. When possible, getting some sun in helps the body recognize day versus night and sleep better when the sun goes down.
4. Avoid longer naps. Naps longer than 45 minutes can make sleeping at night tougher.
5. Avoid food and drink that interfere with sleep. Caffeine should be eliminated, as well as spicy or heavy food that interferes with digestion.

 

If your loved one struggles to implement some better daytime habits, a senior home care provider can be a great support for helping her with changes. Senior home care providers can provide transportation to get out to places that will stimulate her brain and her body.

A senior home care provider can also help her at home by playing games with her, helping her eat right, and encouraging plenty of outdoor time when the weather permits.

 

 

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Senior Home Care in Massapequa, NY, please contact the caring staff at Brookville Homecare today. 516-802-7722