Reducing Sleep Issues For Older Adults

Getting a good night’s sleep is just as important to your patient’s mental and physical health as it was when they were younger.

As your patient or anyone for that matter ages, we will all often notice normal changes in our sleeping patterns, like falling asleep earlier. However, disturbed sleep and feeling restless are not normal parts of ageing.

Sleep requirements can vary from one person to another, but it’s recommended that an adult gets 7-9 hours of sleep per night. However, if you’re patient is waking up not feeling rested or feeling tired during the day are the best indications that they aren’t getting enough sleep.

Causes of insomnia and sleep issues in older adults.

Insomnia or sleep troubles can be caused by a multitude of things, sometimes including pain or medical issues.

Conditions such as:

• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Osteoporosis
• Heartburn
• Weakened Bladder

There are just some of the conditions that can potentially interfere with your patient’s sleep cycle.

Medications

Your patient will most likely require medication to take as part of their daily routine.  It’s important to help your patient take these on time and as requested by their doctor. Some of these may be tablets that may cause side effects which can reduce the quality of sleep. Looking into this can be one way of reducing sleep issues for older adults and seeing if alternative medication may be available should it be causing issues.

Ways to help your patient achieve better sleep at night

Naturally boost melatonin levels:

If you have an artificial light on in a room, your body will suppress the release of melatonin which is the hormone that makes you sleepy. We recommend installing some low-wattage bulbs and to turn off electronic devices at least an hour before going to sleep. If you’re patient enjoys reading books, articles, etc. on an electronic device, we would recommend opting for something like a physical copy of a magazine instead.

Ensure your patient’s bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool, and their bed is comfortable:

As we age, our hearing will become more sensitive to noise and light. Heat is also something that you become more aware of as you age. For your patient to sleep as comfortably as they can, we would recommend a pair of soft ear plugs, a sleep mask, or a sound machine can massively improve your patient’s quality of sleep.

Looking into things that can help with reducing sleep issues with older adults can help your patient get back on track with their sleeping cycles and improve their health drastically both physically and mentally. There are other things that can also be done to help improve your physical and mental health. Learn more about it with our ‘How To Stay Active And Healthy At Home’ blog.

For more information about our expert homecare services, then visit our website today!