Our bodies tend to change drastically as we are putting on age. And one thing that affects us the most is our sleep. Older adults tend to face adverse sleep pattern changes.
Several aged homes like Heritage Care and many more renowned institutes carry out special programs to ensure older adults sleep well. They carry out several programs to make people aware and try to give the caregivers the perfect knowledge about why sleep is so important for older adults.
And that is exactly what we’re going to talk about today! The segments below will give you all the information about how important it is for oldies to sleep well. Apart from that, we’re also going to cover sections that will give you tips to help you ensure your loved ones sleep well.
So, what are you waiting for? Start scrolling down and know-how essential sleep is for older adults!
Related: 8 Ways to Get More Sleep Every Night
Why do older adults suffer from sleeping disorders?
Experts have been quite clear that a minimum of eight hours of sleep is vital for adults. But do your aging parents actually get that amount of sleep? We’re sure they don’t! And to answer your question, here are some possible reasons why:
1. Pain and Ailments
Sadly, as we grow up, we develop several ailments. Most oldies suffer from arthritis, diabetes, insomnia, and many more such illnesses. All of which might lead to chronic pain or even frequent visits to the bathroom, and this affects a good night’s sleep majorly.
2. Grief or Worry
People tend to overthink at times when they age. And this brings about a lot of stress and also works as a catalyst towards illnesses. Another factor that affects sleep majorly is this one! So, if you see your parents sleeping less, worrying too much can be one of the reasons.
3. Prescription Drugs
With ailments comes consuming loads of medicines. And these medications contain complex compositions, which makes it difficult for one to sleep. More so, it can stimulate your aging parents to remain awake from prolonged hours.
These are primarily the reasons why older adults find it tough to fall off to sleep. And one should not take this lightly! Attending this problem is extremely vital!
Why is sleep important for aging adults?
Sleep can solve most of your problems and ensure you cure yourself. When a person sleeps, the body gets time to heal, repair cells, and ensure the immune system works properly.
And with age, our body tends to wear off, which is why we suffer from several ailments. So, it is all the more important for aging adults to sleep at night for a minimum of eight hours.
You will notice many times older adults tend to sleep during the day. This is primarily because the nighttime sleep has been interrupted. It can be for several reasons that we have made a list of above!
Quick Tips to Improve Sleep in Older Adults
Now that you’re aware of how important it is for older adults to sleep, let us check out some quick tips that might be helpful. By following these quick tips, older adults will undoubtedly face some improvement in their sleep. Let’s check them out:
● Avoid Daytime Naps
Older adults tend to doze off during the day quite often. In this case, you would have to take a strong call and make sure your aging parents or grandparents are not sleeping during the day.
For this, you can engage them in light activities like watching television, listening to the radio, birdwatching, and much more. These will keep them awake and ensure their mind is off worries, which is another factor that affects their sleep and overall behavior.
● Do not keep electronic gadgets around!
Another thing you need to ensure is that you do not keep any electronic gadgets around in the bed. This applies to everyone. Electronic gadgets affect our sleep and disrupt our minds a lot. So, always ensure that when you’re in your bedroom, your gadgets are not around you.
● Try out meditation!
Heavy exercising is not for aging adults. But you can always go try out meditation with them. Meditation will drastically change their sleeping pattern, ensuring they sleep well and have a stress-free life.
Final Thoughts
As we come to the end of our blog today, we’re sure you’re well aware of how important it is for older adults to sleep. So, follow these tips, and we’re sure you’ll see sleep improvements in the older adults around you in no time.
