Many older adults with dementia have difficulty sleeping.
The reason for changes in their sleep patterns and sleep disturbances is unknown. Trouble sleeping may be a result of changes to the brain. While there are medications that can help dementia patients to sleep, there are also non-medical strategies that could help. Below are 5 ways to help your aging relative with dementia to sleep better.
#1: Go Outside More
Dementia can cause disruptions in the senior’s natural circadian rhythms, so they can get day and night mixed up. To combat the problem, try taking them outside a couple of times each day. Going outside in the morning and again in the evening can help.
#2: Avoid Napping After Lunch
It’s okay for older adults to take naps. It can keep them from getting too tired and reduce irritability. However, try to restrict naps to the morning hours instead of after lunch. Afternoon naps could make it hard for them to get to sleep at night.
#3: Increase Physical Activity
Exercise can help to wear out your older family member, making it easier for them to fall asleep at night. Go for a walk with them, dance around the living room, or find a group exercise class for seniors.
#4: Maintain a Regular Schedule
Creating and sticking to a regular schedule provides seniors with dementia cues about when it is time to go to sleep at night. Try getting up at the same time each morning and going to bed at the same time each night. Following familiar routines that they used before getting dementia can help, too. For example, if your elderly father always read before bedtime, you might try reading to him at night.
#5: Make the Bedroom a Restful Place
Remove excess clutter and distractions from the bedroom. If there is a mirror in the room, cover or remove it since people with dementia often cannot recognize their own reflection and may mistake it for a stranger in the room. Put familiar and comforting objects near their bed, like a photograph or a cherished decoration. Having a nightlight on in the room can make them feel safer, too. It can also prevent a fall if they should get up during the night.
Home care can help seniors with dementia to sleep better at night by assisting them in maintaining a schedule.
A home care provider can come to the home in the morning to help the older adult begin their day by helping them get dressed and eat breakfast. The home care provider can also take them for a morning walk so they get some sunlight and exercise. Home care providers can also assist with the bedtime routine, helping the older adult to do quiet, relaxing activities at night, get into their pajamas, and go to bed on time. Home care providers can even stay overnight with the senior to make sure they are safe if they get up during the night.
For more information about hiring Elder Care in La Jolla, CA, call the friendly caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare who can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, at 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.
Sources
Unforgettable.org
Alz.org
Nextavenue.org
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