Helping Your Senior Parent with Sleep Disorders

Elderly Care in Riverhead NY

It’s a myth that people require less sleep as they get older. Many people have grandparents who get 4 to 5 hours of sleep a night and seem to function fine over the course of the day, but older people need the same amount of sleep as everyone else. The effects of not getting enough sleep can cause confusion, sleepiness throughout the day, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and decreased ability to complete daily tasks.

If your loved one isn’t getting as much sleep as they used to it could be because they are dealing with an issue that’s preventing them from sleeping a full night. Sometimes the solution is as simple as having your loved one’s doctor change their medication, but other times there’s a more serious cause at the heart of the sleeplessness. Some of the conditions that can cause sleep disorders are listed below.

Anxiety

Some seniors experience anxiety as they age because they’re worried about getting older, developing serious illness, and/or finances.

Pain

Many seniors are in pain. The pain can be caused by diseases, like arthritis, and can keep them from falling asleep easily. If they do fall asleep they’re often awakened in the middle of the night by the pain. Continually waking in the middle of the night keeps them from getting the full night of sleep they need to maintain their health.

Frequent Urination

Frequent urination can also be a factor that prevents your parent from getting the right amount of sleep. If they find themselves waking and having to get up repeatedly over the course of the night to use the bathroom, they’re not getting a full night of sleep.

Medical Disorders

There are a number of medical disorders that can keep your loved one awake at night. Conditions like, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and emphysema, are only a few.

Sleep Apnea

Although this is not a condition that’s particular to seniors, as a person ages, the chance of developing sleep apnea increases. Sleep apnea is the interruption of breathing during sleep. Sufferers often wake, gasping for breath.

Periodic Limb Movement

Periodic limb movement is a condition that causes repetitive leg jerks during sleep. This can occur in one or both legs, and often wakes the sufferer.

It is important to discuss any sleep disorders your parent may be having with their care provider when discussing your parent’s elderly care. If the care provider has noticed changed behavior in your parent over a period of time, take your mom or dad to see a doctor so you can find out if there’s a health issue that needs to be addressed.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional elderly care in Riverhead, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.