Sleep disorders are becoming a major concern for medical professionals regarding seniors. There is an increase in the number of reported cases of sleep disorders among individuals over 70 and when it impact someone who relies on senior care, it can have an impact on more than just their health; it can also affect the care that they receive.
Insomnia can have a direct impact on the individual’s health and well-being. When the senior has trouble sleeping at night, this can cause them to be constantly fatigued during the day, be irritable and have a short temper, or low tolerance levels, during the day, and even suffer from depression.
There are many different potential reasons why seniors are increasingly having more trouble sleeping at night. Some of the reasons are societal, such as an overstimulation before bedtime, such as watching television in bed, and other issues. Other aspects involve medications that the senior is taking. Side effects of many prescription medications can include insomnia and other sleep disorders.
What is the risk of doing nothing for the senior who is unable to sleep at night? If the insomnia isn’t addressed and changes aren’t made, then this could lead to more significant and permanent sleep pattern changes that can have a detrimental effect on their overall health.
If you are concerned about your elderly loved one and worry that he or she may be dealing with insomnia, then you should contact their doctor or other medical care provider to discuss the symptoms and problems that may be causing this insomnia.
When your loved one relies on senior health care services, insomnia could impact the level of care that he or she receives. For example, if your mother is having trouble sleeping at night and has been depressed, then she may withdraw from the care that is being offered to her. She may be unwilling to get involved in any activities, or even go for walks. Your mother could also become more temperamental and this could create friction between her and the caregiver who stops by the check on her.
Discuss your concerns with the senior care service provider and check the medications that your mother has been prescribed recently. If any of the potential side effects include insomnia or sleep disorders, contact her doctor immediately. Don’t wait and hope that this improves over time. When it comes to senior care, staying on top of the potential problems are crucial to long-term health and well-being.
If you have a loved one who could benefit from senior care in Concord CA, contact the caregivers at Hillendale Home Care. We help seniors and their families with many levels of home care service. Call (925) 933-8181 for more information.
