Do you have a mom, dad, or other loved one who complains of not being able to sleep at night? In older adults, sleep deprivation is not at all uncommon. It seems to go with the territory. Unfortunately, the older a person gets, the more important sleep becomes. Without it, the body doesn’t get a chance to relax, revitalize, and refresh.
Sleep deprivation in aging adults isn’t uncommon and is relatively normal. Sleep disturbances can be caused by certain health problems that have developed through the years. If your loved one is having problems sleeping, this is something that should be discussed with their physician. In the meantime, what can you do to help your loved one deal with sleep deprivation?
Why Isn’t Mom or Dad Sleeping?
To figure out what to do in the way of assistance for a loved one who can’t seem to get enough sleep, you’ll first want to figure out what is causing their sleeplessness. Here are some possibilities:
- General insomnia – Truth be told, people of any age can experience insomnia, but it’s a relatively common problem for older adults. It has been associated with cognitive decline, lower quality of life, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and other long-term health issues.
- PLMS (Periodic Limb movements of Sleep) – Some will find this bothersome, while others will hardly notice. PLMS is actually experienced by approximately 45% of retirement age adults. It can be associated with sleep apnea and restless legs.
- RLS (restless leg syndrome) – This was just referred to. Clinically severe symptoms only occur in approximately 2.5% of adults. The criteria for basic RLS is met by approximately 15% or less. Risk factors can include being female, having low iron levels, old age, and poor health. It may also be hereditary.
- Sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnea – Related to how people breathe while they sleep is an entire spectrum of issues and/or problems. Sadly, the term SRBD is probably overused. However, signs of this problem show up in approximately 53% of adults age 68 or better.
- Underlying medical conditions – Secondary sleep problems, as opposed to primary sleep disorders, simply mean that symptoms not ordinarily related to sleep may actually be a side effect of an underlying medical condition that is, as a result, causing sleeplessness.
How Can You Help Mom or Dad Get Some Sleep?
Here are a few ways that have proven to be helpful when it comes to assisting older adults in getting enough sleep:
- Exercise – Though not 100% proven, many people who exercise during the day find that it helps them sleep better at night.
- Meditation – For a variety of disturbances, some older adults have improved their sleeplessness through the use of meditation and deep relaxation techniques.
- BBTI (brief behavioral treatment of insomnia) – Research has shown that this treatment has a relatively impressive track record. It may also reduce the frequency of urination at night, which could be one reason your loved one isn’t sleeping as soundly as they should.
- CBT-I (cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) – Rather than allowing insomnia to be promoted by negative thought patterns, this special therapy, along with relaxation, the encouragement of regular sleep habits, and other techniques related to behavior has shown sleep improvement.
Rittenhouse Village At Lehigh Valley – Helping Retirement Age Adults Get a Good Night Sleep
We, at Rittenhouse Village At Lehigh Valley, understand that older adults can be affected by any number of conditions and illnesses. For many, it’s simply a part of aging. We do all we can to make sure your loved one is comfortable, properly cared for, sleeping well, is adequately nourished, gets the exercise they need, and more.
If your loved one is suffering from a memory-related condition, we can be of assistance there, as well. With SHINE Memory Care, we use proven data to scientifically devise methods that facilitate engagement and comprehension in your loved one.
Contact us at 484.212.6577 to find out how your loved one can benefit from our memory care program. Better yet, use our convenient online form to schedule a tour or ask questions.
