Understanding Sleep Changes As We Age And How To Make Sure Your Relative Gets Enough Rest In 2023
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Understanding Sleep Changes As We Age And How To Make Sure Your Relative Gets Enough Rest In 2023

As we age, our sleeping patterns naturally change. Knowing how these changes occur and finding ways to combat them can ensure that aging relatives get enough rest. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to create a calmer environment and encourage a healthy sleep for a loved one. 

How Sleep Changes As We Age

There are biological and lifestyle changes that typically occur in an aging person's sleeping patterns. These changes include difficulty falling asleep, fragmented sleep, early morning awakenings, and daytime fatigue. Biological changes can be attributed to an age-related decrease in melatonin production, a hormone known for its ability to regulate night/day cycles. Changes in lifestyle such as increased physical activity or exposure to blue light late at night also play a role. Finally, undiagnosed chronic conditions including depression or anxiety tend to disrupt one's ability and desire to sleep adequately. 

How To Ensure Your Older Relative Gets Enough Rest

To combat these changes and make sure your elderly family member is getting enough rest, there are a few things you can do. 

  • First, creating a comfortable sleeping environment is key. It should be quiet, dark, and set to room temperature. Ensuring their bedroom is a calm atmosphere away from any electronics or excess noise can help them fall asleep and wake up more easily. 
  • Secondly, establishing a regular sleep schedule helps entrench the idea that it's time to rest at night as opposed to being awake during the day. Often, people find that when they stick to a sleep schedule, it's easier to fall asleep at night. A solid sleep schedule can also help avoid disorientation when waking in the morning. 
  • Monitoring medications to see how they may contribute to or interfere with sleep is also critical. Certain drugs used for medical treatments may cause disruption if taken late in the evening or too close to bedtime. Monitoring caffeine intake and even the impact of over-the-counter medications is also important. 
  • Lastly but most importantly, seeking medical attention can allow doctors to uncover underlying causes of trouble with sleep. Those underlying challenges may include depression or anxiety-related conditions, sleep apnea, or other medical conditions that could decrease an elderly individual's ability to fall asleep at night. A doctor can also advise medical interventions that can make it easier for seniors to sleep or get adequate rest. 

Get Overnight Help For Your Senior Loved One

Understanding the changes that come with age and implementing resources to help encourage healthy sleep is key to making sure elderly relatives get adequate rest. At Senior Helpers Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties, while we can't ensure the perfect night's sleep for seniors in Anderson, Easley, Seneca, Belton, Liberty, Pickens, and Central, we can offer overnight support that can make many seniors feel more confident about settling in for the night. Contact us today to learn about our overnight and daytime care options and how we can help your senior loved one, both overnight and during the day.