Seniors Struggling with Insomnia: How to Break the Cycle

Home Care in Newton, MA – Use these Simple Tips to Help Your Senior Loved One get a Good Night’s Sleep

Let’s discuss the basics of sleep. The average individual requires seven to nine hours of sleep per night, however, it’s important to note that some people can have slightly different needs when it comes to rest. For an elderly individual, they may need more sleep depending on their physical condition or ailments. Some may do well enough with only a few hours of sleep a night, but they may also take naps throughout the day as well.

So what about when your elderly loved one is struggling to fall asleep? What about when they wake up after an hour or two and can’t get back down into a nice, restful sleep? It can be frustrating, but it can also erode their physical, mental, and emotional health, too. Turning to artificial sleep aides, like sleeping pills, may be a reasonable option, but always have your senior loved one speak to his or her doctor before considering any kind of medication.

Below are a few tips that can make a world of difference.

Avoid caffeine. This might seem to be common sense, but it’s amazing how many people don’t fully understand the potent nature of caffeine. Just because your loved one may have drunk coffee every day for their adult life, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t affect them. It could be causing them to wake up shortly after falling asleep, and it may even be keeping them from falling back to sleep.

Read instead of watching TV. Sure, your loved one enjoys that crime drama on TV, but that can actually stimulate the brain (not in a good, memory boosting way) and it can make falling asleep more challenging. Reading can help to soothe and calm the body and mind.

Be still a half hour before bed. When getting ready for sleep, sit in a recliner or lay in bed and just be still. Don’t listen to music, have the TV on, or anything else. This will help calm the mind and make it easier for your loved one to drift off to sleep.