Sleeping all day can cause confusion and various cognitive and physical problems for the elderly. It also puts them at higher risk for accidents and injuries. Below are some of the reasons your senior parent may sleep a lot during the day and steps you can take to prevent each issue.
Depression
Many seniors face depression after losing spouses, encountering financial hardship, or developing chronic conditions. Failing to find ways to manage those issues can increase anxiety and stress levels and lead to depression and other mental and emotional problems. As a family caregiver, you need to find ways to help your parent combat the stress and anxiety that lead to depression. For example, if your parent is depressed due to losing his or her spouse, your family should try to visit him or her more often. It would also be a good idea to sign your loved one up for a support group or encourage him or her to volunteer, take on more senior-friendly activities, or start dating for companionship.
For families living in Rocklin, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.
Poor Bedtime Habits
Sleep deprivation is one of the top causes of daytime sleeping among older adults. When seniors fail to get enough rest at night, their bodies become tired and cause them to sleep the day away. To prevent a lack of nighttime sleep, develop a good bedtime routine for your loved one. Include a winding-down period when your parent does nothing but relax and lie in bed. Your loved one should take a warm bath or shower to make him or her feel more comfortable before going to sleep. Removing all background noises, such as the television, radio, or other distractions could prevent your loved one from staying up and encourage him or her to rest during the night.
If your loved one is excessively tired or sleepy during the day, he or she may need assistance with the tasks of everyday living. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elderly home care. You can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide an individualized care plan to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Dementia
Older adults living with neurological conditions like dementia often have difficulty differentiating between night and day, causing them to stay up later and sleep all day. Speak with your loved one’s primary care physician about the excessive sleepiness. Also, try to make life as consistent as possible for your parent. Eating meals, bathing, and sleeping at the same time each day could make life less agitating and confusing for your parent.
Unhealthy Eating
The foods seniors consume can affect their hormones as well as their ability to sleep. A diet full of sugary foods and beverages could disrupt your loved one’s sleeping patterns or take away his or her energy in the daytime, causing him or her to sleep more than usual. You can reduce the risk of excessive daytime sleeping by encouraging your loved one to consume healthier foods and beverages, such as lean meats, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and water. When it comes to snacks, purchase items that increase your loved one’s energy levels, such as almonds, dates, bananas, dark chocolate, and green tea.
There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional senior care. Rocklin families can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep their loved ones safe and comfortable while aging in place. If you need professional home care for your loved one, our Care Managers are just a phone call away. Reach out to Home Care Assistance today at (916) 226-3737.