There is no surprise that many changes come with the aging process. Some of them are normal, but some of the things a senior may start doing are not always normal. It is crucial to understand how sleep changes as you get older, and this is especially true if you are an adult child looking after your senior mom or dad. Even professionals like in-home care providers need to know what to look for in sleeping habits and routines.
It’s not unusual for older individuals to have trouble sleeping, even if they slept well as children. A better understanding of how sleep varies as we grow older might help us assess our patterns and take proactive steps to ensure a good night’s sleep.
Do You Sleep Less as You Get Older?
Infants and toddlers sleep between 11 and 12 hours per day, whereas newborns sleep between 16 and 20 hours per day. Imagine! They sleep for more than half of the day. Of course, the amount of time we spend sleeping diminishes as we become older. To function well as an adult, most individuals set a goal of sleeping for 7 to 8 hours per night.
Unfortunately, many seniors find sleeping for an uninterrupted eight hours each night difficult. So they can make up for the sleep they missed overnight, they may take a daytime nap instead. Note that short naps may be normal for seniors, but switching from sleeping at night to all day can signify severe problems.
Sleeping Patterns Can and May Shift as You Age
For infants, naps are necessary in addition to the nightly sleep cycles, but for children and adults, sleep is usually consolidated into a single continuous block, usually at night. More than two-thirds of American adults do not take naps, despite many cultures encouraging it. However, the number of people who nap increases with age.
Sleep Cycles Lengthen as You Age and Seniors May Start Experiencing Insomnia
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) are two types of sleep that humans experience throughout the course of a night’s sleep. The average sleep cycle of a kid is 50 minutes long, but by the time they reach maturity, they are closer to 90 minutes. As we become older, we tend to experience fewer and fewer deep sleep periods, which is a restorative form of sleep that doesn’t involve any nightmares (source). Elderly people are more likely to wake up often throughout the night because they are more prone to insomnia.
Insomnia and interrupted sleep are often the results of more serious medical issues in the elderly. Having problems sleeping isn’t always a sign of advancing years. Consult your physician as soon as possible. Insomnia that is caused by an undiagnosed medical condition will likely continue until you obtain treatment.
Hire In-Home Care Providers
In-home care is great for seniors who wish to age and not rely on their adult children for everything. In-home care may make it easier for a senior to stick to a routine during the day, which can directly impact when they go to bed and how well they sleep.
If you or an aging loved one is considering In-Home Care Services in San Francisco Bay Area CA, please contact the caring staff at Alondra Home Care today. Call (855)-767-1110.
Providing Exceptional Home Care Services in the Fremont CA and Alameda County area for over 5 years.
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