Has your elderly loved one been experiencing issues with their sleep quality? Maybe, they are only sleeping a couple of hours every night and then feeling the need to nap multiple times during the day. It could be that they are sleeping too much because they are always tired. They might just wake up too often in the middle of the night. No matter what is going on, it would be a good idea to help your elderly loved one improve their sleep. Keep reading here to find out what they can do to accomplish this goal. 

Exercising at the Right Time

When your elderly loved one exercises later in the evening, does it tire them out? What about keeping them up all night? How about when your elderly loved one exercises in the morning or afternoon? Does it give them energy or make them tired? If you can figure out if exercising gives your elderly loved one energy or tires them out, you can find the best times for them to exercise. For example, they shouldn’t exercise in the evening if doing so would give them too much energy that they can’t sleep. However, if exercising tires them out, it would be best for them to do this in the evening hours instead of in the morning. 

Limiting Electronics to Earlier in the Day

Did you and your elderly loved one know that studies show using electronics late in the day and evening can cause sleep issues? The problem is generally the light from the electronics and the way it increases brain activity. Trying to sleep after being on electronics is like trying to sleep after jumping up and down. If your elderly loved one does like to use their electronics, it would be a good idea to encourage them to limit their electronics later in the day. They can use them more during the early part or middle of the day instead. 

Don’t Eat Before Bed

Has your elderly loved one been eating before bed? If so, the food might be causing them to feel full or have stomach cramps. Both of these things can make it very difficult to fall or stay asleep. If this is happening for your elderly loved one, it would be a good idea to have them get on an eating schedule. For example, if they will be going to bed around 9 p.m., they shouldn’t eat past 7 p.m. If that is the case, maybe, they should eat dinner at 5 p.m., so they can have a light evening snack around 7 p.m. 

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many different easy that your elderly loved one can improve their sleep. However, it is important to note that if these things aren’t working for your elderly loved one, you can have them see a doctor about their sleep issues. There may be a health concern that needs to be addressed before your elderly loved one can get better sleep. 

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring 24-Hour Home Care in Spartanburg, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at 864-991-3116.  Providing Home Care Services in Greenville, Simpsonville, Greer, Anderson, Spartanburg, Mauldin, Seneca, Laurens, Charleston, Columbia and the surrounding areas.

Sources

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/infographics/getting-good-nights-sleep

• Author
• Recent Posts

Edward Harrison

Founder at Heart of the Carolinas

Edward Harrison founded the Heart of the Carolinas Homecare in 2007 when he saw there was a need for caregivers that provide non-medical home care services, at a price that most people could afford. It was standard in the industry to require hourly minimums and it was common to be assigned a caregiver, not matched with one based on your individual personal needs. Edward understood that to make a successful relationship between caregiver and client, skills were not enough, personality and compatibility plays as much a role as do skills.

Latest posts by Edward Harrison (see all)

• Does Your Senior Parent Need Elder Care? - December 11, 2024
• Strategies to Prevent Wandering for Seniors with Alzheimer’s - November 7, 2024
• The Weighing Importance of Senior Home Care in Greenville, SC by Heart of the Carolinas - November 5, 2024