Sleep Awareness for Seniors
Seniors need just as much sleep as all adults, but many struggle to get quality sleep as they age. Getting sound sleep is important for the immune system, which we want to be especially aware of during flu season and in the wake of the Covid-19 virus spread. 
Without a doubt, sleep is important, but there’s a variety of reasons that seniors may have trouble falling to sleep and sleeping soundly through the night. Anxiety, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome (RLS), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heart issues and side effects from medications are some reasons that seniors may not get the good rest they need. If you’re having trouble sleeping, talk to you doctor about your experiences.
There’s nothing like a night of uninterrupted sleep to make you feel like your old self again. National Sleep Awareness Week takes place in March. Honor the occasion by making it your opportunity to get to the bottom of your sleep issues and to demand a better experience. You deserve it. Consider these tips to get better rest.
Take Notes for Your Doctor
Have you ever had a medical concern, but when you go to discuss it with your doctor you find yourself tongue tied? Remember, doctors are scientists, and they respond to data. If you bring data with you, you’re likely to have a more productive conversation with your doctor. If you recognize that you’re having trouble sleeping, start taking notes about your experiences.
Note dates and times indicating when you go to bed and how long you sleep. Note any issues you encounter during the night. If you wake up, write that down. Keeping track of all those details is important data to track for your meeting with your doctor. Also note snacks you have before bed and if you nap during the day. All of these details impact your evening rest and can give your doctor a better idea of what’s going on with your sleep.
It’s also noteworthy to indicate whether or not you snore. If your partner has been telling you that you’re waking him or her up at night, make sure to include that in your notes.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene
The National Sleep Foundation described sleep hygiene: as “a variety of different practices and habits that are necessary to have good nighttime sleep quality and full daytime alertness.” These practices include refraining from consuming caffeine late in the day and avoiding naps longer than 30 minutes, which can interfere with nighttime sleep. Exercising regularly during the day and adhering to a regular nighttime routine is also important.
If you’ve taken care of children, you know that there are some things that are off limits for them before bed. You probably wouldn’t serve children sugary foods or let them watch loud or wild television shows before bed. You wouldn’t want to get the kids riled up before bed. We want to treat ourselves with the same care and thoughtfulness.
Take time to put yourself to bed. Give yourself some wind down time. Take a bath or a shower, read, pray, meditate. Do what it takes to calm yourself and prepare for a night of good rest.
Address Emotional Causes
If you find that you struggle to sleep because you feel anxious or worried, then this is an important concern to address. Emotional issues that seem manageable during the day can seem insurmountable at night. Sometimes that can be true simply because we’re tired and we don’t have the energy or the clarity to handle with those issues. A tired person is simply not a good problem solver, but sometimes it’s hard to turn off our minds. If you notice that you’ve been having more worries at night and you find them hard to control, talk with your doctor about the anxiety you’ve been feeling.
Anxiety is difficult to control and uncomfortable to live with. But the good news is that it’s common and it’s treatable. There was a time when people were less inclined to talk about emotional issues with their medical care providers, but that’s changing. Patients are encouraged to share their feelings with their doctors. There are many different ways that doctors can help. You don’t have to suffer alone.
Rest Easy
Good sleep is vital to your emotional and physical wellness. Do what it takes to get better rest this March and invite your doctor’s help. It’s worth it, and so are you.