How Much Sleep Does My Loved One Need? Home Caregivers Discuss

If you have a parent, relative, or family friend who is aging, you may be concerned about the amount that he or she is sleeping. Whether they are sleeping too much or too little, it is natural for you to worry about their sleeping habits. A home caregiver should be especially aware of the total time that an older man or woman spends sleeping, as sleep patterns can be reliable indicators of underlying illnesses or conditions.

Our sleep habits change as we age. Children and babies need more sleep than older adults, but studies show that elders do not need much more sleep than their younger counterparts. The average older adult needs about seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

Unfortunately, many home caregivers have noticed that older adults tend to get much less sleep than they need. This can be due to a range of factors, with both biological and environmental influences working to affect the amount of sleep that your loved one gets. Home caregivers have noticed that adults over the age of 65 may have more difficulty sleeping due to a change in circadian rhythm; older adults have a tendency to wake up earlier and fall asleep earlier as well, which can make getting to sleep difficult with environmental noise. Older adults also have a tendency to produce less melanin, a brain chemical thought to influence sleeping patterns.

If you notice that your loved one is sleeping more or less than usual, this can also be a symptom of injury or illness. In particular, sleep disorders are a common is a symptom of depression, which has been shown to be more pronounced in the elderly. In addition to depression, sleeping too much (over eleven hours a day) can also be indicative of a sleep disorder that can be diagnosed by a doctor.

If your loved one's caregiver notices that your loved one seems restless or is seeing a change in sleeping pattern, you should consult your doctor. Suddenly sleeping too much or too little can be indicative of one of these underlying health problems. Your loved one's caretaker can help you track your loved one's sleep patterns, and can help you notice if a problem occurs or something changes.