It’s not uncommon for seniors to have trouble sleeping at night. You might have noticed that your elderly loved one doesn’t sleep well during the evening hours anymore. If you live with them, it’s easy to notice poor sleeping patterns, but even if your senior is living alone independently or has home care services, you might notice some of the signs of them not getting enough restorative rest each evening.
Six Signs Your Elderly Loved One is Not Sleeping Well at Night
- The most common sign is them talking about being tired all the time. If your loved one isn’t ill or battling some type of health condition but still complains about always being tired, it might be because he’s not sleeping well at night.
- He’s napping a lot during the day – especially unplanned naps. A planned-out short nap each day is good for your senior, but falling asleep every time he sits down to watch TV can be a sign that he’s exhausted from a lack of sleep.
- He’s become more irritable or moody. Lack of sleep can also come out in how a person reacts to minor inconveniences. He might snap at people more often.
- He’s refusing to drive long distances. Your loved one might recognize that getting behind the wheel while always feeling so groggy is unsafe, so he might simply start refusing to drive places for fear of not being fully alert while on the roadways.
- He struggles with following instructions or problem-solving. A lack of sleep can make it difficult for cognitive functions that require focus.
- He drifts off in the middle of conversations. Your loved one may not be able to stay engaged in conversations when his brain is feeling foggy due to not getting enough rest.
Food Can Make A Difference
If your loved one is struggling with sleeping well, there are lots of steps you can take to help him sleep better from the moment he wakes up until he lies down at night. One area to consider is what he’s eating, especially at night, and how that food may affect his sleep each night.
By learning what foods promote sleep and which thwart it, your loved one’s home care provider can help him shop for sleep-friendly foods long before he goes to bed. If desired, a home care provider can also assist your loved one in preparing the food for later, so he has easy access to the best foods for a good night’s sleep.
Let’s look at some foods your loved one and his home care provider can purchase to improve sleep:
- Tart cherry juice: A natural source of melatonin can help your loved one stay asleep longer once he goes to bed.
- Bananas: Bananas have tryptophan, an amino acid that creates serotonin and melatonin, which can help your loved one sleep.
- Kiwis: The serotonin in kiwis can help your loved one fall asleep more quickly.
- Almonds: These nuts contain magnesium, a key mineral essential for good sleep by relaxing the muscles.
- Oats: The complex carbohydrates in oats help keep blood sugar levels. Stable blood sugar levels support better sleep.
- Chamomile tea: The antioxidant, apigenin, can help a person feel sleepy after drinking it.
A few diet changes and support from home care providers are an easy and holistic way to help your loved one start sleeping better through the night.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in Goodyear, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Resources today. Call (602) 443-4700
Home Care Resources is a top provider of home care services in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Goodyear, Cave Creek, Care Free, Fountain Hills, and surrounding areas.
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