Page 29 - NC Summer Fall SeniorLivingGuide

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Courtesy of Janet Campbell far-reaching, with some studies show-
When you’re tending seniors, you want ing poor sleep quality contributing to
to provide the best possible care to dementia, depression and the decline of
ensure the best quality of life. In order other mental faculties. These together
to be effective and efficient it can help can be a slippery slope. With health
to create a checklist, whether mentally concerns mounting, some feeding each
or physically, of the areas you should other such as obesity contributing to
discuss on a daily basis. Follow these sleep apnea and heart disease, depres-
important guidelines to ensure you’re sion can then worsen, sleep can worsen
covering the crucial aspects of your se- and a vicious circle can quickly develop.
nior’s care and making the most of home There are many ways to encourage bet-
health care visits. ter sleep quality. One idea is to establish
Sleep. As we grow older, getting suf- a bedtime routine including a warm,
ficient sleep is an area in which many relaxing bath to help unwind. Sunlight
seniors struggle. It’s also an area that can can help trigger healthy body rhythms,
have ramifications in other parts of life, so spending time in the outdoors during
contributing to a variety of mental and the day can also be a boon. Physical
physical health concerns. According to activity can also help seniors sleep, so
the website ‘The Guardian’ (www.the- long as they avoid exercising within
guardian.com), lack of sleep is linked to three hours of bedtime. Also offer an
heart disease, diabetes, obesity, reduced appropriate sleep environment, free of
ability to focus, poor memory and a noise and lights. Seniors should have a
shorter life span. comfortable bed that alleviates pain as
For seniors, the concerns are even more well. For those who wake up groggy or
achy, consider upgrading to a new mat-
tress better suited for an aging body’s
needs. It is best to replace your mattress
every seven to eight years to get a good
night’s sleep. If you dream of reducing
the number of times you toss and turn
each night, consider options to seek out
the best mattress for your situation.
Diet. Meeting a senior’s nutritional
needs is another key way to enhance
quality of life. As we age the body’s me-
tabolism gradually slows, and as some
experts point out this can mean less
calories burned. Seniors should opt for
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