860.265.4427There is no shortage of people who have struggled with falling asleep or staying asleep at night. You may have been in bed tossing and turning only to look over at your clock and realize it’s already 2am and you’re not even close to getting to sleep. When you’re younger lack of sleep is not quite the problem that it can become in your older years and it can be especially troubling for those who are aging in place.
If you’ve never had to sleep in an empty house, you may not know that it can increase your difficulty of sleeping dramatically and getting the rest you need may be a challenge. Your loved one, who may be in their home alone, may be experiencing these issues and not sharing them with you, so you should be on the lookout for signs that they are overtired or out of sorts during the day. If you see these signs, it most certainly makes sense to ask them about how they are sleeping and if they are not sleeping well you may want to see about getting them some help.
Sleep issues can lead to far more then just being tired throughout the day. That’s where it starts of course, but if sleep problems are not addressed and managed they can turn into much bigger health problems. This is especially true among older people who may already be prone to health issues. Sleep deprevation can lead to the following health issues that you may not be aware of;
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Obesity
- Depression
Let’s look at that last one a little bit closer, depression. Depression can be a real problem for those who are aging in place because they may start to feel isolated and alone. Add on top of that consistently bad sleep habits and you have a recipe for disaster. A lack of sleep will exasperate the isolation and lonely feelings and can lead your loved one into a much deeper depression then they otherwise might experience.
Overall one of the best things you can do for your loved one is to work with them to help develop good sleep habits and if they are truly struggling encourage them to seek help. There are ways they can manage their sleep issues by visiting with a medical provider that can provide tips and strategies to get a better night sleep and in some, extreme, cases provide medication that can help them sleep more regularly. In most cases though, there are just small tweaks to your loved ones routines and activities that can aid in the sleep process and get them on a better pattern.
A good nights sleep is one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being. Helping your loved one find that key to unlock health and happiness as they age in place will be priceless.
