Senior Care: Dealing With Sleep Changes

Aging can cause changes in one’s sleeping patterns. Most seniors find themselves having a harder time falling asleep, easily waking in the middle of the night. For aging adults, the recommended sleep time remains to be 7 to 8 hours per night. Fortunately, seniors having trouble with sleep can be helped by our caregivers in Illinois.

Sleep difficulty can lead to more serious health problems. It can result in confusion, depression, and other mental and physical problems. But with proper guidance and care, a senior can reduce these risks by getting enough sleep.

Before going to bed, a senior may have a light bedtime snack, such as warm milk. This contains a natural sedative-like amino acid that can relax one’s muscles and nerves, eventually leading to sleepiness.

It is also best to avoid alcohol, coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, and other stimulating substances. Avoiding nighttime TV, computer games, and the use of cellular phones before bedtime is also helpful.

Finally, going to bed at the same time every night will help seniors wake up at the same time each morning, preventing interruptions mid-sleep. Non-medical home care services address this problem by having a dedicated team of caregivers who can lend seniors a helping hand with personal routines.

If your loved ones need help with their daily routines, call Angel Caregivers, Inc. We are your reliable home care provider in Harwood Heights, Illinois.