Advanced Home Care and Sleep Problems
If your senior loved one is finding it hard to get a good night's sleep, they are not alone. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, insomnia affects almost half of adults 60 and older and obstructive sleep apnea impacts nearly 40 percent of all adults with seniors being more susceptible than younger individuals.
While insomnia may not seem like such a big deal – just take a small nap in the afternoon – sleep disorders can have serious side effects. In fact, the journal SLEEP notes that seniors with chronic insomnia were two the three and a half times more likely to have a major depressive disorder and remain depressed longer. They are also more likely to have attention and memory problems, have a significantly increased risk of nighttime falls, and are more likely to misuse sleep aides including the consumption of alcohol (which actually makes the situation worse).
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Initially, they can help schedule a sleep study. If it is not possible or feasible to have a study conducted at a sleep clinic, they can help with the administration of a home study. The sleep study will let doctor's know if the cause of the sleep problems is sleep apnea. If so, there are a number of lifestyle modifications that can be tried or the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device may be suggested.
Other common causes of sleep problems are life choices, poor bedtime routines, and medication. In fact, a common side effect of many medications is a disruption of sleep patterns. Advanced home care personnel can help your loved one track their sleep patterns and bring the data to a physician for evaluation. If a medication is suspected of causing sleep problems, an alternative may be prescribed or another medication may be added to help with
Sleep is important not only for promoting healing, but also for the overall well-being of the individual. When there are problems with the sleeping pattern, it impacts the overall health and safety of the older adult. The person will not have enough rest and will be too tired to perform activities surrounding daily living. We have to assess the risk factors contributing to the problems of sleep disturbance and these might be “related to poor sleep hygiene, including an irregular sleep schedule, environmental noise or light, and the use of stimulants” (Mauk, 2014, p. 581). If the sleeping pattern is not assessed, possible complications will happen, such as falls that could lead to bodily injuries.
Martha is a 65 year old lady who suffers from insomnia based on the preliminary symptoms of sleeplessness. She is also under severe stress from her mum’s dependence condition which makes her unhappy with her retirement. Martha’s mum’s condition is of great influence to her insomnia disorder for she only thinks of her through out the day, caring for her leaving Martha with little time to check on her health. Insomnia is a disorder that mostly affects the elderly though it may affect people from all ages. It is the lack of sleep even when one feels to have some sleep. It is not a stand alone disease but a symptom which is defined by the duration one lacks quality sleep. Transient insomnia is not having sleep for a week, short term insomnia is lack of adequate sleep for 2-3 weeks, while sleeplessness for a month is termed as chronic insomnia. Various studies have shown that insomnia affects women more often than men and that 30%-50% of elderly Americans experience difficulty in initiating and maintaining adequate sleep. Diagnosing insomnia in a patient the health practitioner would evaluate the patient medical record and other factors that may contribute to insomnia. For example, snoring, psychological factors such as stress levels and drug use. Martha’s physician would check on her medical
Nursing homes and assisted facility homes are all examples of long term care facilities. These facilities are usually targeting individuals who are of geriatric age or need around the clock care (mental health and physical health). The residents in these communities have access to individually-tailored levels of individual or group-centered activities, programs, and assistance whether it is with home or personal care. Long term care facilities are generally for those who are unable to manage independently in the community. Specific types of long-term services include nursing homes, hospice care, home health agencies, and residential care facilities. The goal of these programs is to make sure each patient has a safe and comforting environment
Such patients endure a long list of sleep issues including insomnia, alpha wave intrusions, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome.
Sleep is essential to life; it is one of several components, including food and water, which keep the living alive. However, a significant percentage of the human population has considerable difficulty reaching and maintaining Stage IV within their sleeping patterns, the stage that allows the mind and body to fall into a deep and restorative sleep, otherwise known as REM sleep. At the core of this difficulty is a condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, a "serious, potentially life-threatening condition that is far more common than generally understood" (Sleep Apnea). Indeed, obstructive sleep apnea can be very dangerous if it is not properly detected and treated.
Action for Social Justice for those Aging-Out of the Care System There is a need to acknowledge that youth who age-out of the Government care system in British Columbia, at the age of nineteen, are inadequately supported. These children have already undergone much pain and suffering due to abuse, neglect or abandonment by their parents. Many of these children spend years within the care system, often demonstrating emotional, social and behavioral issues, which tends to lead to multiple placements. Many of these youths have various medical diagnosis and demonstrated behaviors caused by the abuse, neglect and abandonment, not only from their family of origin but the multiple placements and dysfunction that they have experienced in their young lives. These issues do not disappear at the age of nineteen.
Sleep disturbance among the older adult population is known to be a prevalent issue (Gooneratne, Pack, Staley, Schutte-Rodin, Dinges, & Pack, 2011). Much study has
WebMD notes that "Both quantity and quality of sleep are important to memory." If your senior loved one is not getting a full night of sound rest, care services personnel can help them arrange a sleep study or assist with a home sleep kit to determine if they have sleep apnea or some other sleep disorder. Care services can also help them ,eep a sleep journal and design and stick to a proper sleep routine.
relief from this symptom alone, it would be substantial. The article goes on to describe a
The couple stated that as they are getting older, they are sleeping less compared to when they were very young. They sleep an average of 6 to 7 hours a day sometimes, less than that. The husband complained of laying awake especially when something is bothering him both does not use any sleeping aid but the wife sometimes uses benadryl to help her sleep for a longer period of time.
The phone beeped showing a message from her sister to call immediately. As my mother did so, she was informed that their mom, Lola, had just been in a car accident. Lola was unharmed, but the accident was a result of her not remembering where she was going. Signs kept popping up that her memory may be failing in a few areas and this was the final moment they knew Lola needed a trip to the doctor. After multiple tests, the results were clear- Lola was diagnosed with the Alzheimer’s disease. This spurred many questions and emotions, but the main focus for my mom and aunt was what to do about her living situation for Lola had been living on her own since her husband passed away. This is a common argument between family members-what to do when
A.) Although lack of sleep can affect people of all ages, races, and ethnicities there are certain people who may be at an increased risk to experience lack of sleep (What Are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency, 2017). Those who are at increased risk include: caregivers, those working long hours, or those working multiple
Have you ever considered the importance of sleep and the impact it can have on your health? It is likely that most of us have experienced trouble sleeping at some point in our lives. This is typical and usually lasts for a short period of time due to stress or other various factors. However, if it becomes a regular occurrence then perhaps you may be suffering from some type of sleeping disorder. Sleep disorders can be detrimental to one’s physical and mental health disrupting the actions of your daily life.
As stated in a previous statistic, sleep disorders unfortunately target a wide variety of ages. Children are commonly affected by Sleep Apnea, teeth grinding, Night Terrors, Nightmares, sleep walking, Restless Leg Syndrome, bedwetting, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Adults tend to be affected by Insomnia, Hypersomnia, Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Sleep Paralysis, Hypopnea Syndrome, and Noctoria. Sleep disorders are very common and also very dangerous in some circumstances. Ill treating or ignoring sleep disorders can lead to lethargy, poor mood, lack of motivation, and may negatively impact
Insomnia affects almost half of adults living in America. (# 8, 2012) This is a shared sleeping disorder that many people across the universe are diagnosed with. Several causes of insomnia include exercising too much, stress, withdrawal from alcohol or a certain drug, physical circumstances, and diseases. People with insomnia usually have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep, which causes people to have poor-quality sleep, which will affect their mood, energy, and productiveness for the next day. (MediLexicon, Intl., 2012) More symptoms of insomnia include waking up earlier than needed, having trouble falling back asleep, and being in a bad mood the following day. Insomnia can cause many more problems such as weight