Sleeping problems in the elderly are more common than not, and the reasons for their sleep disruptions may not always be apparent to their doctor. All too often a quick fix may be offered in the form of a sleeping pill, far easier to go down that path than to spend time with the patient to look for the underlying reason for the sleep problems.
Sleeping drugs should never be prescribed for the elderly person, far too many falls occur in the middle of the night as a result of drugged sleep, usually with grave consequences for the person. Generally sleeping pills fail to deal with the root cause of the sleeping problem, but instead compromise the health of the person, and fog their brain to such a degree that their thinking becomes muddled.
Often it is assumed that elderly people need less sleep, therefore, their complaints of sleeping difficulties often fall on deaf ears. They may not realize that they are their own worst enemy when it comes to achieving quality sleep, for they have failed to establish a regular sleeping routine, often referred to as sleep hygiene.
Daytime napping is often the cause of sleep latency at night, as is failing to go to bed at the same time every evening, and awake at the same time every morning. Many elderly people roam around in the middle of the night making cups of tea and eating pound cake or biscuits, this habit must be stopped in order to improve sleep quality.
The elderly person is far more likely to enjoy a sound sleep if a routine of daily exercise is established, the type of exercise will vary according to the health of the person. Tai chi is a healthy meditative gentle exercise suitable for most, swimming may not be accessible to many but is an ideal exercise for those who need to avoid stress on their joints. Short walks if health allows may prove to have more than a physical benefit, the social aspect may encourage the person to meet with others and share interests.
Diet and general eating habits may need to be corrected, it is important for the elderly person to eat a healthy well balanced diet, this may be a problem if the person lives alone and is not motivated to cook for themselves.
Loss of a partner can have a devastating effect on the elderly person’s overall health, sleep latency is common, with additional awakening throughout the night. This type of pattern may continue for a long time after the loss of a partner, resulting in lifetime health problems. It is most important for the grieving person to have access to some form of therapy to assist them to process their grief.
Retirement often appears to deprive the elderly person of an interest in life, they may often feel useless and out of touch with the rest of the world, it is important that they join in community affairs and make a contribution in some way. Perhaps they have a skill developed during their working life, that they could pass on to younger people, knowing they had something to offer others could give them a sense of fulfillment.
Often the sleeping problems occur as a result of ill health, and the use of prescription drugs to treat the ailments. Each drug taken is capable of producing a swag of side effects, another drug is added to the mix to treat those side effects, thus compromising their health even further.
Recommended sleep disorder sites
sleep problems in the aged
sleep problems in the aged
Sleep Net
Sleep Disorders
Sleep Disorders
