How to Sleep Better for Seniors

For the elderly, getting a good night’s sleep is just as important as when they were younger, if not more so. Sleep helps rejuvenate the body, helping it to repair cells that were damaged during the day, and strengthen the immune system. It also improves attention, focus, memory, and prevents serious health problems from developing.

If a senior is having trouble sleeping at night or is overly tired and sleeping too much, it could be a result of another issue. While receiving skilled health care at home in Chesterfield or any other place, it would be a good idea to keep the attendant on duty up-to-date on sleep habits and/or problems. Besides looking for irregular activities and sleep patterns, being overly tired or having insomnia could be a sign of something else so make sure to seek help from a doctor. There are a number of conditions that could affect a person’s sleep including frequent urination, restless leg syndrome, heart arrhythmia, and sleep apnea.

Here are some simple tips that may help seniors get a better sleep:

Get into a routine.

Settling into a routine can kick the body clock back into gear. Waking up, eating, exercising, and doing other daily activities can get the body used to being tired at a certain time. Try to end the day with something relaxing like reading a book to make it even easier to fall asleep.

Drink less fluids at night.

This will make for less trips to the bathroom at night, which tends to be a common disrupter of sleep. Frequent urination tends to increase with age as well, which makes this problem even more of a pain for seniors and prevent them from getting an uninterrupted night of rest.

Create the right environment

Try to avoid watching television or fiddling around on a tablet or phone while in bed. This will help train the brain to think of bed as only for sleeping. As well, try to limit the use of these electronics to at least one hour before bed as these devices stimulate the brain in a way that makes it harder to fall asleep. The bed should also be comfortable and inviting and have enough support according to each individual’s needs.

Essential Oils

Certain scents can help relax the body and muscles, easing tension and make for a more peaceful and deeper sleep. Lavender, ylang ylang, cedarwood, and chamomile are just some examples that can calm the body and mind. There are also lovely combinations of oils that are suggested to soothe other ailments such as colds, arthritis, and muscle soreness to name a few.

If receiving skilled home health care in Macomb or if the senior has any health conditions, check with a doctor to make sure a blend or specific oil won’t affect any other treatments or cause irritation or sensitivity before trying.