Healthy Sleep Habits for Seniors – 5 Ways Home Health Care Can Help

March is National Sleep Month and we’re focusing on how utilizing home health care can help promote healthy sleep habits for seniors. Our home health care aides can play an important part in helping your loved one get the sleep they need.

Seniors Sleep Habits Change

Along with our home health care aides our at home therapies may help to get you more active; which is one way to help create the need to rest. If your challenges involve medical issues our skilled nursing or medical home health care services can help to make you more comfortable by attending to those specific issues.

According to the National Sleep Foundation it is a proven fact that our sleep habits change as we age.

These changes in sleep can come from a number of reasons, including:

• Medications
• Reduced Activity/Movement
• Psychological Changes (depression, anxiety)
• Frequent Urination (the need to get out of bed to urinate)
• Waking Up During Sleep (the longer a person remains awake the harder it is for them to get a good sleep that leaves them feeling refreshed)
• Falling Asleep Slower
• Chronic Pain

No matter how you look at it our sleep habits will begin to change from the day we are born. We have to focus on getting a “quality” sleep versus a “quantity” of sleep (or time you spend in bed trying to sleep).

5 Ways Home Health Care Can Help Promote Healthy Sleep Habits for Seniors

You can choose from a number of services that can help promote healthy sleep habits for seniors. Our in home health care services include both medical and non-medical assistance that can help promote a better night’s sleep and a more rested feeling.

How Home Health Care Can Promote Better Sleep Habits in Seniors

1. Getting Active – There is no question that the more you move, the more tired you will be. Utilizing the skills of one of our therapists can help get you moving safely. Being active will help you sleep better and even give you better chances of sleeping through the night.
2. Reduce Anxiety – Our aides help to provide in home caregiving that will help you reduce your anxiety about everyday activities and needs at home. We will help get you to appointments, take care of light housekeeping so you’re not bogged down with chores, and our skilled health care is available for those who have medical problems that may be preventing a good night’s sleep.
3. Healthy Diet – Home health care aides can create healthy meals for you. Your diet plays an important part in sleep habits as does your weight and a healthier diet will promote a healthier weight.
4. Reduce Pain – Physical & Occupational therapies are meant to help strengthen and become more independent; often resulting in less pain. Home health aides can help you become more active in the community and offer companionship that can keep you busy with everyday life activities. This can help take your mind off the pain and challenge your mind and body resulting in a good night’s rest.
5. Assistance – As we work with you to get you feeling better and more active you’ll find that you want to participate more in daily life activities. With our homemaker services, our caregivers are trained to guide you and keep you safely involved in activities (helping to fold laundry, taking part in making dinner, assist you with shopping and more).

Make the Move to Take Control of Sleep

• Call us to talk about how we can help with your individual situation. If you or your loved one is having problems sleeping we may be able to help relieve some of the stress.
• Contact your doctor if you seem to have problems sleeping or are waking up often throughout the night.
• If you are getting a good 7-9 hours of sleep and still feel tired, you may have sleep apnea. Ask your doctor for more information and if this could be a problem.

Every day should be a day you’re concerned about healthy sleep habits. Sleeping allows your body to rest, heal, and prepare you for another day to make memories and laughter. Contact us to see if we can help you promote healthy sleep habits for seniors or anyone who is facing health obstacles in their life.

Photo by WarmSleepy