Sleep is essential to emotional and physical health in the senior years, and without it, the body could shut down. As a family caregiver, you need to help your aging loved one with Alzheimer’s develop good sleeping habits that prevent tossing and turning throughout the night so his or her brain can remove dangerous toxins and proteins. Below are some common Alzheimer’s-related sleep problems older adults may encounter and tips for addressing each issue.
1. Keep a Consistent Sleep-Wake Cycle
The internal body clock is often damaged due to the effects of Alzheimer’s, making it difficult to distinguish between night and daytime hours. You can handle this problem by keeping your loved one on an active schedule. The consistency could calm your parent, especially at night.
Caring for senior loved ones can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Assisting Hands Home Care for the help they need. We provide high-quality in-home care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
2. Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine is one of the worst things for seniors living with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s. Foods such as chocolate, ice cream, pudding, and some breakfast cereals often contain caffeine. Your loved one should avoid foods and drinks that contain caffeine or limit his or her daily intake. Caffeine is an addictive stimulant that disrupts sleep and increases the odds of behavioral problems.
3. Manage Communication Challenges
Communication is challenging for many seniors with Alzheimer’s because the disease leads to muscle weakness, which could affect the muscles in the mouth and throat. Some voice problems are mild, while others are more severe and prevent seniors from speaking.
Being unable to communicate feelings of discomfort could reduce the odds of getting a good night’s rest. Always check your loved one’s comfort levels before bedtime, which may include adjusting the cooling system, turning off a night light, or adding more pillows to the bed.
The type of home care Reston seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. We are a trusted provider of respite and 24-hour care, and we also offer specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care for seniors.
4. Handle Hallucinations
Complex changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer’s can make seniors hear, see, or smell things that aren’t there. These delusions could keep your loved one up at night and lead to poor sleep quality.
To handle the hallucinations, go to your loved one’s room and offer reassurance and understanding. The objective is to keep your loved one calm so he or she can sleep for the remainder of the night.
5. Ask the Doctor about Medications
The prescriptions your parent takes to reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms, such as combativeness, poor memory, and cognitive decline, could cause sleep disturbances. Speak with a doctor if your parent continues to have difficulty sleeping throughout the night. The physician could prescribe alternative medicines or recommend therapy.
6. Discourage Taking Too Many Naps
Older adults with Alzheimer’s often crave sleep during the day, making it difficult to get adequate rest at night. You can reduce the number of naps your loved one takes each day by promoting stimulating exercises and activities that keep him or her awake and active. However, your loved one should avoid stimulating activities close to bedtime because they could leave him or her too energized to rest.
Without the right assistance, Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors and their families to handle. If you’re looking for professional Alzheimer’s care, Reston Assisting Hands Home Care provides high-quality care aging adults and their families can count on. All of our caregivers are trained to help seniors with Alzheimer’s live happier and healthier lives, and we also provide specialized dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care. Trust your loved one’s care to the professionals at Assisting Hands Home Care. To create a customized home care plan for your loved one, call us today.
