How do your elderly parents sleep at night? It’s no secret that seniors often have harder times falling asleep than their younger counterparts. This is especially true for those who experience mobility issues and/or are having to constantly use the washroom. What can be done to provide your folks with much more comfortable sleeps each night? It all begins with ensuring that their bedroom is a safe environment.
Here are three ways to successfully safeguard your aging parent’s bedroom:
1. Put a phone on the bedside table.
Having a phone near the bed provides a senior with great peace of mind. It ensures that he/she can communicate with others whenever necessary. Of course, this could be for emergency reasons. However, when discussing safety, never neglect the importance of happiness. The simple act of making of a phone call from the comfort of a bedroom can make a senior’s life a lot more enjoyable.
“Using a retro-style phone makes the piece a designer accent as well as a functional necessity,” points out Gina Samarotto on SFGATE.com, “Whole-house intercom systems are a convenient way for an elderly person to summon help. A simple, wireless doorbell can be installed in a bedroom with the button inside a nightstand drawer or to allow easy access.”
2. Place the room on the ground floor.
Most bedrooms are upstairs. We all know that. But is that ideal for the senior who lives in your home? If getting up and down the stairs is an issue for your aging parent, you may wish to consider installing a stair lift. These incredible innovations provide smooth and safe transport between floors. In lieu of a stair lift, you may wish to reconfigure a room on the ground floor. Is there one you can turn into a bedroom for your elderly loved one?
“Perhaps you could convert a study or dining space into a bedroom,” suggests HomeBunch.com, “Being able to sleep on the main level of your home can make your life much easier, especially if you have mobility problems. If you don’t have the option of shifting your room downstairs, think about fitting a chairlift or elevator instead.”
3. Insist upon a high-quality bed.
No matter what you do to make a bedroom safe and comfortable, a low quality bed will not a good night’s sleep provide. Ensure that the bed your elderly loved one is using is ideal for his/her needs. That entails making sure it is the right height and has a soft, yet firm mattress. For maximum comfort and safety, we would highly suggest getting a home hospital bed.
“Choose a bed that is a comfortable height — neither too high nor too low,” advises Samarotto, “If a hospital bed is necessary, a more luxurious comforter or bedspread buffers the aesthetic.”
At LifeCare Mobility Solutions, we proudly offer home hospital beds. They allow individuals to increase sleeping comfort by adjusting bed positioning with proper therapeutic mattress surfaces. Home hospital beds are perfect for individuals who have hard times getting in and out of bed, have sleeping issues or insomnia or are bedridden.
If you have any questions about our home hospital beds, please don’t hesitate to call us at 416-267-9800 or email us at info@lifecaremobility.ca. You may also contact us by filling out the form on our Contact page!
