Seniors that are living independently often struggle with being alone at night. Anxiety can interfere with a senior’s ability to get the restful sleep that they need to stay healthy. 24-hour home care can help give seniors and their families some peace of mind at night. With 24-hour home care, seniors are not alone, and they can rest easier knowing that someone will be there while they are sleeping. Having a solid night time routine will also help senior sleep better at night. When seniors maintain a consistent bedtime routine, they often have better quality sleep than seniors who don’t. Some things that seniors should include in their bedtime routine are:

Meditation

Meditation is a fantastic way for seniors to quiet their minds and prepare their bodies for sleep. Just 10 minutes of meditation is enough to significantly improve the quality of a senior’s sleep. Seniors that want to meditate but aren’t sure how can use guided meditations that are available on smart phones or on CD or streaming through the TV. Guided meditation makes it easier for seniors to become familiar with meditation and learn how to meditate. There are guided meditations specifically designed to help put seniors in the right mindset for sleep.

A Bath Or Shower

A warm bath or a shower can also help seniors relax and reduce their stress and anxiety. Seniors who enjoy hot baths can add herbs or oatmeal or milk to their bath to make it even more relaxing, but they should avoid any kind of bath oils or bath bombs made with bath oils. Bath products that use oils can make the tub extremely slippery, and that can cause seniors to fall. Epsom salt baths can help soothe tired muscles and help seniors relax enough to fall asleep if they are sore from exercise.

Listening To Music

Listening to soothing music is a good alternative to meditation. Seniors who don’t want to try meditation or who are convinced that they wouldn’t be able to meditate can listen to some soothing music at night instead. 20-30 minutes of light piano, classical music, or soundscapes can help seniors drift off to sleep. There are also white noise machines or machines that allow seniors to pick custom sounds like birds chirping or rain falling to help them go to sleep. A small fountain in the room can also provide soothing sounds as well as hydrating the air.

Journaling

Journaling is a great way for seniors to get rid of all their fears and anxieties before they go to sleep. By writing all their fears and anxieties out onto a piece of paper or into a notebook seniors will be able to let all of those negative thoughts go and sleep more peacefully. Journaling for 20-30 minutes can also help seniors who have depression or anxiety disorders manage their symptoms. Encourage your senior parent to make the time to journal at night to improve the quality of their sleep.

If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Columbia, MD, please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706

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Ann Smith RN

Owner at Care at Home

Ann Smith, RN, Realtor® Your local Home care and Home transition expert Ann is a Registered Nurse and a Realtor with a passion and dedication to serving her community. She has over twenty years of nursing experience in pediatric, geriatric, home health care, and care management. She founded Care at Home, a home care company, to provide seniors with services that promote independence and safe aging in place. Ann is dedicated to helping seniors achieve stress-free retirement living by providing comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's mother instilled in her the value of hard work, dedication, and service to others at a young age, which is now a driving force in her home care agency. Her caring and compassionate work with seniors began when she was just 17 years old. She was offered a job as a caregiver. Just as quickly, she instinctively knew that this would be her life's work. She soon became a nurse and has since helped many older adults transition seamlessly into a new phase of life. While helping seniors and individuals with their home care needs, it became apparent that part of the transition process often involved selling their current home for more suitable living arrangements. That's when Ann decided to add real estate services to alleviate stress and enhance her client's experience. It's also how she became known as the Home Transition Agent. Today, Ann helps her mature clients achieve stress-free retirement living by providing in-home care and comprehensive services from health to home. Ann's love for children and dedication to helping families caring for children with chronic health conditions inspired Pediatric Care at Home, a division of Care at Home that provides pediatric nursing care. Ann and her team are dedicated to providing compassionate care to all, from infants to older adults. When Ann isn't busy helping her patients and clients, she volunteers her time at women's shelters and fostering dogs. She and her veteran husband enjoy a simple life in the countryside, where farm animals and country life surround them. Ann also enjoys reading, photography, gardening, and nature walk with their dogs.

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