How To Help Your Senior Parent Get Better Sleep
24-hour home care can support your senior with round the clock care for better health and sleeping habits.
If your senior parent is having trouble sleeping, that could be affecting their health. Seniors need quality sleep to be healthy. When seniors don’t get enough restorative sleep, it can increase their risk of health problems like dementia and heart disease.
It can be tough for family caregivers to help a senior parent improve their quality of sleep if they aren’t with their senior parent at night. Because of jobs, children, and other responsibilities, it may not be possible for you to be with your mom or dad at night.
24-hour home care is a great option if your mom or dad is having trouble sleeping well. With 24-hour home care, your mom or dad will have someone in the home with them all night. They will feel more secure and more relaxed, and so will you. Knowing that your mom or dad isn’t alone at night can improve the quality of your sleep, too.
In addition to 24-hour home care, some things that you can do to help your mom or dad get more sleep or better quality sleep are:
Encourage a Consistent Sleep Schedule
One of the easiest ways to improve sleep is by sticking to a regular sleep schedule. Encourage your parent to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This helps their body get into a rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up feeling rested.
You can help by setting reminders or even calling them at the same time each morning to start their day.
Create a Comfortable Sleeping Environment
A cozy and calm bedroom can make a big difference in sleep quality. Talk to your parent about their sleeping setup. Make sure their mattress and pillows are supportive and comfortable, and get them a new mattress if it’s been a long time since they had a new one. Health changes may mean that your mom or dad’s old mattress isn’t comfortable for them anymore.
Consider adding blackout curtains to block out light or a white noise machine to drown out distractions. The room should be cool, quiet, and dark in order for your mom or dad to get the best possible sleep. 24-hour home care providers can help ensure the room is ready for your senior to sleep comfortably.
Limit Screen Time Before Bed
The blue light from phones, tablets, and TVs can interfere with sleep by tricking the brain into staying awake. Encourage your parent to stop using screens at least an hour before bed. Instead, suggest relaxing activities like reading a book, listening to calming music, or doing a puzzle. If they rely on TV for company, you might recommend setting a timer to turn it off automatically.
A Warm Bath Or Shower
If your mom or dad has 24-hour home care and someone is in the home to help them take a shower or bath safely, then a warm bath or shower might help them sleep better. Taking a warm bath or shower can help seniors regulate their body temperature and relax so that they are more likely to fall asleep.
If you or someone you know needs help with 24-Hour Home Care in Grand Rapids, MI, contact Gauthier Family Home Care. We provide quality and affordable home care services in our community. Call us at (616) 560-4057 for more information.
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