Insomnia is a much bigger deal for your elderly family member than she might think. She might even make it worse accidentally by deciding to do things like nap during the day to make up for lost sleep. Getting through those issues is a lot easier with your help, as well as help from her doctor and home care assistance.
Determine What’s Contributing to the Insomnia
Very often there are underlying causes for insomnia that are the actual primary issue. Trouble with blood pressure, cognitive changes, blood sugar issues, and so many other health issues can all be contributing factors to insomnia. Your senior is most likely to notice the trouble sleeping and believe that’s the primary issue, however. Talk with your aging family member’s doctor about possible causes for her insomnia and see if there’s anything that can be shifted or adjusted to make sleep more likely.
Address Cognitive Changes
Cognitive changes are common in people who are dealing with insomnia. If your elderly family member is having new issues with memory or other difficulties, it might be a good idea to talk with her doctor about whether these are normal changes or something more. When you have that answer, you can start thinking about next steps.
Work on Setting Routines with the Help of Home Care Assistance
Home care providers are excellent at helping your elderly family member to embrace a routine that supports what she needs. If the insomnia is caused or worsened by your elderly family member’s chaotic schedule, then having a routine that eases her through all of the high points of her day can help her to naturally wind down and be ready for sleep at a good time for her.
Stick to a Solid Afternoon Schedule
The key to your elderly family member’s routine is often in her afternoon schedule. Avoiding naps and making sure that she’s sticking to foods and drinks that allow her to get the sleep she needs can make a big difference when it comes to the time when your senior wants to start winding down for bed. At first that afternoon schedule may need some tweaking, and home care assistance can be right there.
Put a Solution in Place for Overnight Difficulties
Overnight can be another problem area for your elderly family member. If she is able to fall asleep easily, sometimes the issue is that she can’t stay asleep easily. Elder care providers there with her overnight can help her to remember that she’s got assistance if she needs it. They can also make sure that she’s getting up on time in the morning, which is the other important part of having a sleep hygiene schedule that works well for your senior.
It might be difficult for your elderly family member to find the exact right answer for her right away. With time and a little bit of adjusting here and there, though, she’ll be able to make some headway on getting the sleep that she needs.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HIRING HOME CARE ASSISTANCE IN CAMPBELL, CA, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS TODAY (408) 317-4969.
