Making sure seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s receive enough sleep is one of the many difficult tasks of providing care for them. Seniors with these diseases frequently experience sleep problems, which can be stressful for both them and those providing Alzheimer’s care, including loved ones. The good news is that there are tips and tricks that may help seniors sleep better.
Establish a Reliable Schedule
Establishing a consistent daily routine can support and strengthen a feeling of security and comfort. Loved ones and caregivers should make an effort to help seniors go to bed and wake up at the same times every day. Maintaining consistency might help their body settle into a healthy sleep pattern and reduce worries they might have.
Create a Calm Sleeping Environment
Senior bedrooms should be a calm space. To achieve this, the room should be kept quiet, cool, and dark. This can be done by reducing light from the outside and muffling distracting noises. Seniors might also enjoy white-noise machines or apps that help them sleep. Additionally, bedding should also be considered. Seniors need comfortable sheets, blankets, pillows, and a supportive mattress. Also, as part of Alzheimer’s care, if seniors wander at night, loved ones might consider an alarm on the door.
Develop an Exercise Routine
Engaging in physical activity during the day can help seniors sleep better at night. Home care and loved ones can encourage them to go for walks, do some mild exercise, or take part in hobbies they enjoy. However, seniors should be encouraged to stay away from stimulating activities right before bed since they can interfere with falling asleep.
Address Additional Sleep Issues
Along with sleep issues that Alzheimer’s can bring, seniors might also suffer from restless legs syndrome or sleep apnea. If this is the case, they should work with their medical team to manage these conditions and enhance their quality of sleep.
Limit Napping
While quick naps have their advantages, prolonged or late-afternoon naps can disrupt sleep at night. If seniors need to nap during the day, it needs to be earlier and for no more than 20 to 30 minutes.
Avoid Intense Emotions Before Sleeping
Loved ones and home care should work to keep seniors calm as the night wears on, which includes steering clear of topics, shows, or activities that might be either upsetting or too exciting for seniors. A good strategy is to dim the lights, or have them automatically dim as it gets later, and enjoy quiet activities, such as reading or working on a puzzle together.
Offer Assurance
Seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia may wake up agitated and confused. When this happens, they need to be given gentle instruction and reassurance. It’s a good idea to keep a nightlight on in case they wake up in the middle of the night to avoid confusion.
While providing dementia or Alzheimer’s care might be difficult for loved ones and caregivers, having an action plan to help seniors get a better night’s sleep can make a big difference in the senior’s quality of life and general wellbeing.
Sources:
https://www.agespace.org/dementia/help-someone-with-dementia-to-sleep-better
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/sleep/6-tips-managing-sleep-problems-alzheimers
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20047832
If you or an aging loved one is considering Alzheimer’s care in Stockton, CA, please contact the caring staff at Provident Care Home Care today at (209) 578-1210.
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