Senior Health and Well-Being: How Much Sleep Do Our Elderly Loved Ones Need?

Senior Health and Wellbeing  |  March 14, 2024

What Every Senior in North and West Vancouver, BC Needs to Know About the Importance of Sleep 

Seniors and Sleep | As we age, various aspects of our lives shift, and one aspect that often catches us by surprise is our sleep patterns. 46% of adults aged 65 and older experience difficulty falling asleep and maintaining quality sleep throughout the night regularly.

#DYK – Insomnia is the most common sleep problem in adults 60 and older.

Individuals in the senior age group, typically 65 and older, are recommended to strive for 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Nevertheless, attaining restful and rejuvenating sleep can pose a challenge for this demographic.

Seniors and Sleep Struggles:

• With age, our bodies make less of the chemicals and hormones that help us sleep well.
• Some seniors develop sensitivity to environmental factors affecting sleep, including noise and temperature.
• The parts of the brain that control sleep are affected by conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or stroke.
• Arthritis and other conditions can also play a role in sleep quality due to chronic pain.

Moreover, older adults may experience earlier bedtime, nocturnal awakenings, or insomnia, which can detrimentally affect their daily life quality. Beyond mood disturbances, insufficient sleep can impair memory function and heighten the risk of falls.

Seniors and Sleep Challenges:

• Inadequate rest affects mood: Not getting enough sleep can cause irritability, stress, problems with concentration, and mood swings. Long-term sleep deprivation can lead to cognitive issues and depression.
• When seniors don’t sleep, their bodies suffer; headaches, body aches and weakness can sometimes be attributed to lack of sleep.
• Being tired can contribute to illness: When tired, an older adult’s immune system doesn’t perform as well, opening the door to illness and infection. Some studies have shown that lack of sleep can lead to heart problems and diabetes and it has even been associated with an increase in risk of breast cancer.

If seniors are struggling with sleep, seeking guidance from their doctor is advisable. There are several home-based approaches seniors and their caregivers can explore to promote a peaceful and restorative night’s sleep.

Seniors and Sleep – Tips for a Better Night’s Sleep:

• Having a sleep schedule: going to bed at the same time every night, and getting up at the same time every morning, helps a person adjust to a natural sleep rhythm.
• Being mindful about eating habits: alcohol, spicy foods, caffeine and a diet high in sugar can all cause sleep issues. Eating and drinking close to bedtime can also be a problem for some – rather than having a full meal before bed, it’s better to have a light snack or warm milk.
• Creating an individualized sleep plan: changing nighttime routines, and daily activities, can impact sleep. People need to find out what works for them, create a schedule and stick to it! Consistency is key. Some people find that more physical activity during the day helps them sleep better. Others find that napping during the day makes it harder to sleep at night, while some aren’t affected. Meditation before bed, a warm bath or reading time at night can all be part of a sleep plan if they help.

Seniors who aim to adjust their daily routines to achieve better sleep, and Comfort Keepers® is here to assist the families that need it. Our services encompass support with scheduling and routines, promoting increased daytime activity, implementing physician-prescribed exercise and dietary plans, and offering transportation to scheduled appointments. Enhanced sleep quality correlates with increased daytime happiness, and our mission is to facilitate a joyful life for every client, regardless of age or individual needs.

Comfort Keepers® North Vancouver and West Vancouver Can Help with In-Home Elderly Care Services!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care. Our senior care agency offers dementia care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers® Can Make a Difference with Interactive Caregiving™

Our team of expert in-home caregivers will strive to ensure your senior loved one has the best quality of life possible, bringing joy and good health to their home environment. Our Interactive Caregiving™ program ensures all needs in terms of safety, nutrition, mental well-being, and everyday activities of home care services are met.

Quality and Accredited Elderly Care In-Home: Happier, Healthier, and at Home with 24/7 Care Opportunities!

Have you been thinking about Nursing Homes as a solution? Do you need Home Care in North Vancouver & West Vancouver for you or a loved one? Comfort Keepers® help seniors in North Vancouver and West Vancouver, along with the surrounding areas, to live happy, healthy lives in the comfort of their own homes by providing quality, compassionate care, and safety technology solutions to preserve independence and contribute to a better life.

Moreover, our seasoned in-home caregivers are carefully chosen based on their quality of being empathetic. Our care centers around companionship for seniors. This is the kind of care that originates from the soul and allows us to meet our client’s requirements. 

Contact the Comfort Keepers® North Vancouver and West Vancouver office to learn more about our unique service offering.

Comfort Keepers®, the premium home care service for Seniors on the North Shore, was awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada. Achieving the highest available certification in Canada for Accredited Home care services demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

References
Washington Post. “Sleep patterns can change with aging. Does that mean health troubles ahead?” Web. 2019.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “Get Enough Sleep.” Web.
Health Magazine. “11 Surprising Health Benefits of Sleep.” Web. 2018.

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