Getting a good night’s sleep makes a huge difference for just about anyone, but seniors may start to realize that it’s becoming more difficult than ever to get a decent night’s sleep even once in a while. If that’s the case, then working with senior home care providers and medical providers can help them to put together a set of solutions to try.

Causes of Poor Sleep in Seniors

There are so many reasons that seniors might have trouble sleeping. Some are related to health issues, like experiencing sleep apnea or having trouble with medication side effects. Others could include pain, needing to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, or simply being too restless to sleep even when tired. Understanding the cause is an important part of putting the right solution in place.

Rule Out Medical Causes

As always, it’s vital to ensure that there aren’t medical causes for poor sleep. Seniors could be experiencing terrible sleep for all sorts of reasons, and if those reasons are curable, then it’s going to be to their benefit to take care of that underlying cause. Doctors can help seniors to narrow down what they’re experiencing and see what symptoms are related to other health issues.

Get Clearance for Physical Activity

While at the doctor’s office, seniors should ask about physical activity. If they’re living a more sedentary life than they used to, poor sleep can be related to that reduced activity level. Getting an idea about how much exercise they’re cleared to do can help aging adults to embrace moving more and might just help them to get better sleep. Physical activity during the day helps with a variety of issues, not just poor sleep.

Establish Sleep Routines

Another common problem is that seniors might have abandoned prior routines that helped them get quality sleep. Staying up too late or getting up later and later just contributes to bad sleep hygiene overall. When seniors are following routines that are consistent, that’s going to support them getting their circadian rhythm back on track and helps to improve sleep overall.

Promote Relaxation Before Bed

Relaxing before bedtime, or as part of a gradual wind-down routine that starts in the early evening, can be a huge help for seniors with sleep troubles. The right activities are going to be ones that help cue seniors’ bodies to start shutting down for the day. Everyone likes and responds to different activities, of course, so some to try include:

• Reading an actual book
• Doing yoga or gentle stretching
• Listening to music
• Taking a warm bath
• Meditating
• Drinking herbal tea

Trying a variety of different options helps seniors to find the ones they like the best.

Make it Easier for Seniors to Adopt These Habits

Lots of times seniors find it difficult to adopt some of these habits on their own. This is especially true if they’re overwhelmed with how tough it’s starting to be to handle daily tasks. Having help from senior home care providers makes a huge difference because seniors are able to take a step away from the harder tasks and let someone else handle those. They’re able to put their focus and energy on the things that are really important, like getting better sleep.

Senior home care is one of the easiest ways to free up time and energy for aging adults. Having help when they need it allows seniors to focus on the priorities that keep them feeling great.

If You Or An Aging Loved One is Considering Senior Home Care in Brighton, CO, Please Contact The Caring Staff At Assisting Hands Home Care Today! 720-780-7755.