The importance of sleep is indisputable. Older people need a quality night’s rest on a daily basis in order to experience its restorative powers for thinking, memory, and functioning on an optimal level. But the aging process can impact a senior’s sleep.

What important processes happen during sleep?

While older adults are sound asleep, neurobiological processes take place, influencing their mood, cognitive function, and energy levels. The brain is not asleep even when the aging body is. Rather, several structural and physiological changes happen in the brain during sleep.

These changes have a profound impact on the senior’s cognitive health and are responsible for helping the senior learn new information and strengthening the new memories that had been formed earlier in the day. Sleep plays a major role in memory.

Sleep is necessary to promote the consolidation of ideas and experiences. Older people who experience regular, uninterrupted sleep have a better capacity for problem-solving and creativity. Attention is also enhanced, which can be vital to helping seniors perform tasks safely.

How do sleep habits change with age?

Seniors, though, experience changes to their sleep patterns. Feeling sleepier earlier in the evening tends to affect older people. As a result, their sleeping habits shift, and these seniors may wake up earlier in the morning. Changes to sleep cycles are just one problem affecting seniors.

Sleep disturbances can increasingly reduce their quality of sleep. When aging adults are vulnerable to sleep disturbances, they are prone to conditions, like sleep apnea. Seniors with sleep apnea snore loudly, pause their breathing during sleep and experiencing fatigue during the day.

Sleep apnea is linked with Alzheimer’s disease. Sleep apnea increases amyloid, a protein found in the brains of people with this progressive brain disease. Older adults with Alzheimer’s disease suffer sleep issues, such as insomnia at night and excessive sleepiness during the day.

Insomnia is common in people age 60 and over. Lasting days, months, or years, elderly insomniacs have trouble sleeping: Falling asleep takes a long time; they wake up multiple times per night; they wake up early and are unable to fall back to sleep; or, they wake up tired.

Physical pain can also reduce the quality of nighttime sleep for seniors. Feeling sick can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Certain medications are likewise responsible for causing sleep problems in the older adults who take them.

How does a lack of sleep affect seniors?

A lack of restful sleep at night can lead to major problems during the next day. Groggy seniors have a higher risk for falling and injuring themselves—which can be a life-threatening event or one that leads to decreased mobility. Accidents happen, too, when seniors do not sleep.

Emotional issues arise without adequate sleep. Irritability emerges when aging people fail to receive the sleep they need. Depression is another condition that can affect unrested seniors. Memory problems worsen and forgetfulness increases in seniors who go without sufficient sleep.

Getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for optimum functioning. Some elderly people resort to over-the-counter sleeping aids or prescription sleeping pills. However, medicines are a short-term solution; since they are not a cure, seniors must develop healthy sleep habits to encourage sleep.

What promotes quality sleep?

Seniors require 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, like all adults. Establishing a regular sleep schedule is key to getting these hours of restful sleep. Older people should go to sleep and wake up at the same times each day, including on weekends and while traveling.

Avoid daytime naps to promote sleep at night. Afternoon or evening naps can keep seniors awake at night. Regular physical exercise is helpful for encouraging sleep when the activities are performed at least 3 hours before bedtime. Try doing light stretches before bed, however, to feel relaxed.

Seniors find reading a book, taking a warm bath, or listening to calming music before bedtime to be soothing. Watching unsettling television shows, such as horror, keeps older people awake at night. Turn off the television before going to bed to minimize the likelihood of staying awake.

A cool, comfortable bedroom is conducive to nighttime sleep. Adjust the thermostat, draw the curtains, and keep the room as quiet as possible to promote sleep. While preparing for bed, dim the lights. Even lights from tablets and smartphones can make it difficult for seniors to fall asleep.

Consume large meals well before bedtime, since heavy dinners prevent a good night’s sleep. Caffeinated beverages, like tea, soda, and coffee are not advised late in the day. Similarly, alcoholic drinks, even in small amounts, are notorious for keeping people awake.

Sleep health is critical to seniors’ quality of life. Aging people who have trouble sleeping find support from the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care. We provide quality overnight care to ensure your elderly loved one receives assistance preparing for bed and when awakening in the morning.

Overnight caregivers are advised for vulnerable seniors, such as those with dementia, post-surgical patients, and those with a high risk of falling. Our caregivers prepare the sleep environment so that it is safe, and we ensure our care recipients’ non-medical care needs are met.

Your elderly loved one receives assistance with nighttime routines, such as bathing, toileting, and dressing. We provide timely medication reminders, too. If the senior wishes to change position in bed, we help. Our transfer assistance is essential for seniors who need help getting into or out of bed.

Families place full trust in our caregivers, as each of our care providers is licensed, bonded, and insured. Our professionals are also trained in CPR and First Aid. We know how to respond quickly to emergencies at night and keep our aging care recipients safe, comfortable, and healthy.

When the senior in your life would benefit from senior home care, the overnight caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care will be invaluable. We serve the elderly in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, FL and the surrounding areas. Call us today at (561) 566-5989 to schedule an in-home consultation and start quality elder home care.