Why It’s Important for Older Adults to Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Everyone feels better when they are well rested, so it’s no surprise that a good night’s sleep is a crucial part of a senior’s health. However, the changes to the body that comes with age make it challenging to get enough rest. Caregivers should try to make sure their aging loved ones are getting enough sleep because of the following reasons.

Lower Overall Stress Levels

One of the most effective ways of chasing away stress is to get plenty of rest. It gives the brain a chance to relax and recover from all the big and little irritations that occur throughout the day. Stress tends to raise blood pressure and cause a variety of health issues. Since chronic stress is linked to heart conditions in old age, anything that lowers stress can be useful for a senior. 
Older adults who want to alleviate stress and enjoy a high quality of life can benefit from professional in-home care. In Dayton, elder care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.

Protect the Brain from Alzheimer’s

People tend to feel confused when they do not get enough sleep, and it turns out that dementia in old age is linked to chronic low sleep levels. The brain uses sleep to repair itself and store memories, so it is crucial to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. According to a study published by the University of Oregon in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, getting between six to nine hours of sleep a night can protect cognitive abilities.
If your elderly loved one is living with Alzheimer’s and needs help managing the symptoms, turn to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of Alzheimer’s home care. Dayton seniors can rely on our revolutionary Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program that promotes cognitive health and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. CTM also encourages seniors to engage with others in an enjoyable way and helps them build new routines to look forward to.

Enhance Glucose Metabolism

A lot of seniors have diabetes because their bodies cannot properly process sugar. A 2009 study from Nature Reviews Endocrinology found poor sleep was directly correlated with difficulty metabolizing glucose. Over time, this can lead to chronically high blood sugar that increases the risk of diabetes and causes a lot of damage throughout the body.

Reduce Arthritis Symptoms

Getting enough sleep has a direct effect on how the body handles pain. People who are already sleep deprived tend to have more difficulty functioning while they are in pain. Sleep deprivation can also cause an increase in inflammation, which tends to make the pain associated with arthritis worse. Because sleep can make sore joints so much more bearable, it is a good idea for seniors with arthritis to get as much sleep as possible.

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Sleep assists with weight loss because it balances blood sugar. When people are tired, they tend to crave sugary snack foods that give them a little energy boost, but this can make it more difficult to lose weight in the long run. Being well rested also makes a senior more likely to choose healthy meals.
Lack of sleep can lead to a number of health issues in aging adults. Living with a serious health condition can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional 24-hour care. Dayton seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more. Call Home Care Assistance at [hca_phone] to schedule a free in-home consultation.