Studies have shown that consistent bedtime and rise times are connected to better sleep quality. Let’s look at how having a good night’s sleep can help your parent have a better future and the ways as a caregiver, you can assist your parent in getting the best rest possible.
A good night’s sleep can boost a person’s mood.
Sleep and mental health are closely tied together. When a person is not getting enough sleep, it can often lead to mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Help your parent get a good night’s sleep by making sure his bedroom is set up for restful sleep with a comfortable bed, no distractions, and any other items he needs to sleep better. As his caregiver, offer suggestions if you parent doesn’t see how to improve his sleeping environment.
Good sleep can improve memory and concentration.
When exhausted, it’s hard to concentrate, as well as remember the details to a process. Getting the sleep he needs will help your parent remain sharp and keep his brain healthy. Repeatedly not getting enough sleep can lead to cognitive decline, memory loss, and even contribute to dementia. If you’ve noticed that your parent is struggling to follow simple instructions or remember the steps to complete a task, ask him how he’s been sleeping. If his sleep is being interrupted a lot at night, that might be the cause.
Quality sleep can help your parent maintain his weight and support his metabolism.
As your parent ages, it might be hard for him to maintain his weight as his metabolism naturally slows down. Sufficient sleep regulates a chemical in the body that stimulates appetite. Not getting enough sleep will cause your body to slow down its metabolism, making weight gain more likely.
Good sleep lowers the risk of many diseases.
During sleep is when the body performs many restorative functions such as tissue and muscle repair as well as protein synthesis, which is needed for a strong immune system. Poor sleep has been linked to health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Insufficient sleep puts additional stress on the body, weakening the immune system and causing inflammation.
The body cleans house during sleep.
As the body rests, the body takes this time to clean itself of harmful toxins and debris from the brain. So, while the body rests, the brain is able to work extra hard at taking care of maintenance chores to help the whole body run better. As the toxins are cleared from the brain, the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s are reduced.
Every night it’s important for your parent to get the best sleep he can get to help him live a healthier life and have a better future. And don’t forget, as his caregiver, it’s also important for you to get a good night’s rest, too!
Source: https://worldsleepday.org/
If you or an aging loved-one is considering caregivers in Concord, CA, please contact the caring staff at Provident Care Home Care today at (209) 578-1210.
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