Sleep is critical to good health, and not sleeping can lead to a variety of health issues especially for seniors. To combat this, we’ve pulled together a few senior care tips to help you achieve a blissful sleep.
According to the National Institute on Health (NIH), older adults’ sleep patterns change as they age – making your sleep patterns more like those of young adults. Your ability to sleep and sleep well changes also, making it harder to fall and stay asleep peacefully. Part of that problem the NIH suggests is the slower production of melatonin, the hormone that promotes sleep, and a good diet can play a role.
What can you do?
- Try to achieve 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
- To help you jumpstart a good night’s sleep, dietitians suggest eating a complex carbohydrate-rich snack such as an apple or clementine before bed instead of a larger meal to trigger serotonin production which makes you feel sleepy, relaxed and boost melatonin.
- Meditate or listen to soft music.
- Have a cup of tea.
It’s hard to live a sparked life when you are feeling tired and lacking energy. Need more suggestions? Reach out to our Life Care Managers by calling our Navigation Desk who can help give you more ‘sparked’ resources to get you sleeping and living healthier lives.
Sleep On!
