Rest is important for all of us. Generally speaking, it is recommended that we each get at least eight hours of sleep in every night. Naturally, a restful sleep enables us to rejuvenate for the next day. However, for many elderly individuals, a good night’s sleep is hard to come by. As you can imagine, getting adequate sleep is especially important for seniors. As HelpGuide.org explains, it helps them to improve memory formation and allows their bodies to repair cell damage that occurred during the day.
The site goes on to explain some of the ramifications faced by older adults who don’t sleep well. They are “more likely to suffer from depression, attention and memory problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, and experience more nighttime falls,” it notes, “Insufficient sleep can also lead to serious health problems, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight problems, and breast cancer in women.”
What can be done to help seniors sleep better at night?
The first thing would be to eliminate any poor sleep habits. According to HelpGuide.org, that would include irregular sleep hours, the consumption of alcohol before bedtime and falling asleep in front of the television. For a good night’s sleep, it’s important to lie down in a comfortable, dark and quiet room. It’s also important to stick to healthful sleep positions.
According to DailyCaring.com, sleeping on the stomach isn’t recommended. This is because it’s hard on the back. When you think about it, sleeping on your stomach with your head elevated by a pillow causes an unnatural bending of the spine and neck. This can produce long-term back pain. It’s a habit that may be hard to for many to break. It’s especially important for seniors to be dedicated to finding ways to sleep on either their backs or their sides.
For side sleepers…
DailyCaring.com recommends that you use enough pillows under your head to keep it in a neutral position. This will keep your spine aligned from your neck to your body. It’s also recommended that a pillow be placed under the torso and between the knees or lower legs to keep the hips, pelvis and spine aligned.
For back sleepers…
The site recommends that you don’t use too many pillows under the head so the neck isn’t forced to bend forward. “Add a pillow or a leg wedge under the knees to keep the lower back in a neutral position,” it adds.
What type of bed can help seniors to have the most comfortable sleeps?
At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we highly recommend home hospital beds. Because they can be adjusted to a user’s liking, these beds maximize both sleeping comfort and the ease of getting in and out of bed. Home hospital beds allow individuals to increase sleeping comfort by adjusting bed positioning with proper therapeutic mattress surfaces. They are perfect for individuals who have hard times getting in and out of bed, sleeping issues or insomnia or are bedridden.
If you have any questions about the home hospital beds offered by LifeCare Mobility Solutions, please don’t hesitate to call us at 647-350-4488 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
