With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season comes an inability to sleep at night. If you’re a kid, this is mostly likely the case. Excitement over the impending visit from Santa Claus makes it hard to get some solid shuteye. For seniors, however, a lack of sleep isn’t usually due to the excitement surrounding the holidays. There are many reasons that older adults find it hard to get good rest at night. Having to regularly go to the bathroom is just one of them.
What can be done to give your elderly loved one the gift of sleep?
Reduce mental stress.
These days, mental stress is one of the top reasons people can’t get to sleep at night. We’re not just talking about seniors here. There are many things going on in the world that can cause us to worry. Constantly thinking of the problems we’re facing doesn’t allow us to get the peaceful and calm rests we need. Finding ways to reduce stress is a top method of sleeping better. What calms you down?
“Listen to calming music,” suggests India’s Seniority, “Record your worries in a journal, speak to a friend, or read a relaxing book to reduce the accumulated stress and anxiety of the day. Try these techniques to let go of problems and troubling thoughts before sleeping.”
Eat heart-healthy fats to increase serotonin.
Melatonin is a hormone that your brain produces in response to darkness. It helps with the timing of your circadian rhythms – also known as your 24-hour internal clock. In other words, melatonin production helps you to sleep. Being exposed to light at night can block melatonin production. However, when you eat heart-healthy fats, it can increase melatonin production to help you sleep better at night.
Serotonin is a chemical that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain and throughout your body. On APlaceForMom.com, Kara Lewis explains that proteins like turkey are considered melatonin foods because its serotonin content is used to make melatonin, which induces sleep.
“Your sleep cycle will love other lean proteins, including fish, meat, and eggs,” she writes, “Avocados lead to an increase in the body’s serotonin. Nuts also increase serotonin. Specifically, pistachios’ melatonin levels make them a nighttime favourite.”
Reduce your exposure to light.
For some people, light sources make falling asleep impossible. They need complete darkness in order to drift off into dreamland. This is why some individuals wear eye masks to bed. It’s a good idea to dim the lights when bedtime is approaching. As Seniority indicates, a darker environment helps to promote better sleep.
“Start switching off unnecessary lights as the evening progresses,” encourages their website, “It slowly prepares your body for sleep. Also, desist from watching television or using your smartphone, iPad, or other blue-light devices at least an hour before your bedtime. This will align your body’s natural circadian rhythms to the sleep cycle and prepare your body for a good night’s sleep.”
Get a home hospital bed.
Home hospital beds 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. To learn more, 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!
