The Importance of Getting a Good Night's Sleep for Seniors in Jenkintown, PA and Surrounding Areas

Here’s how our home care professionals help seniors in Jenkintown, Ambler, Abington, Horsham, Hatboro, Philadelphia and surrounding areas in Eastern Montgomery County, PA stay well-rested and get a good night’s sleep

Sleep disorder is not uncommon in seniors. In fact, according to the American Sleep Association about 70 million adults struggle with this condition which can lead to physical and cognitive issues. Seniors are not able to get a good night’s sleep for many reasons. Factors such as health, medication, frequent urination as well as sleep apnea can cause insomnia. Some seniors cannot fall asleep due to pain caused by arthritis, muscular atrophy and heart problems.

If your loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease, they might also suffer from a sleep disorder.  With different techniques employed by our home care professionals at Visiting Angels Jenkintown, your loved one could regain a good night’s sleep.

Sleep Deprivation Poses Health Risks for Seniors

When people do not sleep well, they tend to become cranky and moody. Once sleep patterns return to normal this problem gets resolved. However, sleep deprivation can affect one’s health in various ways.

• Cognitive Impairment. Sleep is necessary for brain health. Not getting enough sleep can stop the production of new brain cells, impair alertness and the ability to process information.
• Weakened Immunity. Without sleep our immune system is no longer able to function properly and produce antibodies. Therefore, we become prone to colds or bacterial infections. Since seniors already have a diminished immune system, lack of sleep affects them even more.
• Greater Heart Disease Risk. Lack of sleep increases blood pressure levels and the production of inflammatory agents, and therefore can lead to heart disease and other chronic health issues.
• Increased Risk of Obesity. Seniors who suffer from sleep deprivation have an increased appetite which can lead to overeating and obesity.
• Diabetes. Sleep deprivation can mess up hormone levels so the body starts producing less insulin than it needs to regulate blood sugar.
• Anxiety and/or Depression. Seniors who suffer from chronic sleepiness can become depressed, anxious, sad and moody.

Tips for Better Sleep from the Home Care Professionals at Visiting Angels Jenkintown

Luckily, with some techniques, your loved one could regain a good night’s sleep.

• Setting a Daily Schedule.Doing things such as waking up, eating and going to bed at the same time every day can help your loved one’s body to get used to a certain routine. We can monitor your loved one to make sure they’re following a consistent schedule in order to get a good night’s sleep.
• Avoiding Late Night Coffee. Seniors should avoid drinking any beverages with caffeine in the afternoon. Our home care professionals can make sure your loved one maintains a well-balanced diet and avoids drinking coffee or other stimulants in the afternoon.
• Spending More Time Outdoors. When a senior spends the whole day inside their body is no longer able to tell the difference between day and night. Our home care professionals can make sure that your loved one goes on daily walks and spends some time outside in fresh air.
• Avoiding Long Daytime Naps. Seniors who nap a lot during the day are not able to fall asleep in the evening. We can help your loved one avoid napping by providing meaningful companionship and conversation.
• Turning off the TV.All electronic devices should be removed from the bedroom.

If your loved one is struggling with sleep deprivation, our home care professionals can help them restore good sleeping habits. Call our office in Jenkintown, PA today and learn about our in-home senior care services.

At Visiting Angels, we offer exceptional in-home senior care services to aging adults in Jenkintown, Abington, Ambler, Huntingdon Valley, Lafayette Hill, Horsham, Lower Gwynedd, Hatboro, Philadelphia and throughout Eastern Montgomery County, PA.