What Should You Know About Care for Seniors with Insomnia?

Given that millions of individuals worldwide suffer from this sleep problem, many people despise the label insomnia. According to recent studies, at least 10% of individuals suffer from persistent sleep difficulties, while 30% of people experience short-term insomnia. This article covers the signs of insomnia in the elderly, how to care for seniors who have insomnia, and the benefits of in-home care,

What Is Older Adult Insomnia?

Regardless of age, scientific data indicates that adults should get at least 7-9 hours of sleep per day to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In actuality, however, 23-24% of senior citizens experience sleeplessness. Although excessive exhaustion and difficulty concentrating can be caused by short-term insomnia, long-term insomnia causes various disorder

While insomnia can affect anyone at any age, it most commonly affects seniors.

What Are the Typical Shifts in Your Sleep Schedule as You Get Older?

Your body experiences numerous drastic internal and exterior changes as you age. A few of these modifications may have an impact on your standard of living. For example, it may change the way you sleep. As you get older, you could have some of the following frequent issues with your sleep pattern:Getting up earlier than normal in the morningEasily becoming fatigued in the eveningWaking up multiple times during night

Having trouble settling down to sleep

Your body goes through all of these changes as a result of hormonal shifts as you age. For example, your sleep is regulated by the hormone melatonin. But as you get older, your body makes less melatonin, which can lead to sleeplessness.Four phases or stages can be distinguished in a normal sleep cycle. Non-rapid eye movement, or NREM, is the first two stages; heavy NREM is the third; and rapid eye movement, or REM, is the last. Less of the third stage, or the heavy NREM period, occurs in older adults. They become tired during the day as a result of waking up multiple times during the night.

Insomnia Symptoms

It shouldn’t be regarded as a sleep disorder if your elderly loved one plans to go to bed early and rise up earlier than usual as they get older. However, your elderly loved one may be suffering from insomnia if you observe any of the following symptoms in them on a frequent basis:Even when they feel exhausted, have difficulty falling asleepBeing troubled to fall back asleep after waking upFeeling drowsy even after getting a good night’s sleep Getting angry all day Having trouble focusing on regular dutiesAre unable to control their feelingsUsing alcohol as a sleep aid

Reasons for Sleeplessness in Senior Adults

Elderly individuals’ insomnia may be caused by a number of circumstances, such as the following:

Modification of the typical sleeping scheduleusage of pharmaceuticals, such as diuretics, antidepressants, nasal decongestants, and hypertension medications, among others.Other conditions such as sleep apnea and restless legs syndromeOther long-term health problems include dementia, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular problems, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, diabetes, etc.Unusual lifestyle choices, such as not exercisingUsing caffeine or alcohol late at night

Consuming tobacco

Any stress at work or in your personal life that could be detrimental to your mental healthEffective Home Care Techniques for Treating InsomniaEstablishing a calm atmosphere at home before bed is among the first things that doctors would advise. The following are some useful treating insomnia symptoms:Switch on the air conditioner at a lower temperature and turn off the lights.Keep all electronic gadgets, including cell phones, out of your senior’s bedroom.Make sure your elderly loved one abstains from alcohol and caffeine before bed.Urge your senior loved one to give up smokingEnsure that your elderly loved one maintains a healthy diet, engages in regular exercise, and gets enough sleep.Make sure your senior follows a pattern by having them wake up at the same time every day, going to bed at the same time every day, and avoiding napping throughout the day, even if they are a little tired.To assist the doctor in treating insomnia, have your senior maintain a sleep diary detailing when they wake up and go to bed.However, consult a physician if these at-home techniques are ineffective for you. To address the disease, you might be advised to modify your lifestyle or be provided medication.To better care for your elderly, you might also think about choosing respite or professional home care services. These services offer knowledgeable and experienced carers who are authorized to look after senior citizens, particularly those who have heart problems, insomnia, and other conditions.In Orange County, are you in need of home care? At a reasonable cost, Newport Home Care offers skilled elderly care providers that specialize in tending to individuals with a range of medical issues, including sleeplessness. Get your elderly loved one’s skilled, sensitive treatment by getting in touch with us right now.