Sleep troubles are something to be concerned about because they keep your elderly family member from getting the rest that she needs in order for her body to recharge and to heal. Her sleep hygiene, or her habits around sleep, could be a big part of the problem.
Check the Room Itself
The bedroom, or more accurately the atmosphere in the bedroom, is a problem more often than people think when it comes to sleep hygiene. If the bed or the bedroom aren’t comfortable and welcoming, your senior might subconsciously feel uncomfortable there. If there are exterior noises or lights, you may need to deal with that in order to help.
Make Sure She Has a Routine
Routines are crucial for your elderly family member. Without routines, each day can blend into the next and before she knows it, your senior is feeling as if all of her time slips away. Routines also help her to be ready for different events during the day and evening. A bedtime routine helps her to wind down and to get in the right frame of mind to start heading to bed. It can be as simple as reading a book and having some herbal tea each evening.
Encourage Her to Avoid Tossing and Turning
One problem she might be running into is that she tosses and turns for a while trying to get to sleep. That can quickly turn into hours of not getting rest. If she can’t sleep, it’s much better for your elderly family member to go ahead and get back out of bed and do something else. Reading a book or doing something that’s relaxing for her can get her into that space that does finally allow her to fall asleep.
Look at Her Daily Activities
If your elderly family member is very sedentary during the day, that can cause problems at night. Moving at least a little during the day, both doing regular activities and engaging in exercise, can be very helpful in getting to sleep. Your senior should talk to her doctor about how much movement is right for her health needs.
Her Doctor May Need to Help
Correcting issues with your senior’s sleep hygiene should solve a great many issues. But if your elderly family member is still having trouble sleeping, there could be underlying issues she’s battling. Your senior’s doctor can help to find those issues and offer solutions.
Your senior may need a combination of help in getting her sleep back on target. Working with senior care providers can offer more help than she might expect. Letting them handle routine tasks means that your senior’s energy and time are freed up to do things like exercise a little more regularly or focus on what she needs in order to wind down for the day.
If You Or An Aging Loved One Are Considering Hiring Senior Care in Redington Beach, FL, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 727-748-4211.
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Becky Moultrie is Owner and Administrator of Assisting Hands Home Care Serving Pinellas. Guided by a motto to Do Good with Love, she’s well positioned to do just that at Assisting Hands. She has a passion for helping families keep seniors and those who are diabled happy and healthy at home. She serves on a number of boards in Pinellas County including the Pinellas Park Gateway Chamber and Better Living Seniors (BLS), leading the Membership Committee. Annually, she hosts a Silver Santa Party, collecting donations for nearly 100 low income seniors in the county. She attends Blessed Sacrament Church, Seminole where she is an Ascribed Member of the Rosminian Order. When not busy Doing Good in the community, Becky is at home with her husband David & their 4 children, tending to their beehives and digging in the garden.
